Vista House, a private home in Westlake, Georgia, sponsored by Vista Global during the Masters.Credit: VistaJetA version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.Private jet companies are rolling out the red carpet for their top clients at the Masters Tournament, as competition shifts from the air to the ground with lavish hospitality events and experiences.Thousands of private jets are expected to fly in and out of Augusta, Georgia, and nearby airports for the Masters in the coming days, making it one of the most important events of the year. NetJets, the industry leader, expects more than 775 flights into and out of Augusta, marking a 35% to 40% increase from last year, the company said. Flexjet is projecting about 350 to 400 flights, and Vista projects over 20 flights a day.”Demand is off the charts,” said Mike Silvestro, CEO of Flexjet. “The Masters is like nothing else.”On the private jet calendar, Davos, the Super Bowl, Cannes, the Kentucky Derby, the Monaco Grand Prix and Art Basel all attract plenty of private jets and wealthy attendees. But the Masters has a unique combination of tens of thousands of well-heeled attendees and a full week of events, creating a constant flow of clients flying in and out.The swarm of Gulfstreams, Phenoms and Challengers is straining Augusta Regional Airport. Kenneth Hinkle, director of aviation services at the airport, said it had 3,294 flights last year and he expects an increase this year. The airport raised its “special event fee” this year by 25%, to between $150 and $4,000 per plane, depending on size, and expanded its jet parking area to accommodate 200 jets at a time.The competition among private jet companies for landing slots, parking spaces and access to and from the terminal has grown so fierce that many companies have moved to nearby airports in Thomson, Georgia, or Aiken, South Carolina.A photo rendering of NetJets’ new Augusta terminal.Credit: Courtesy of NetJetsThe real battle …
