2 , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Department ▁of ▁Transport ation ▁( US D OT ) ▁awarded ▁Sea Port ▁Airlines ▁with ▁daily ▁fl ights ▁to ▁Nash ville ▁replacing ▁Georgia Sk ies . ▁The ▁Ath ens ▁Airport ▁Author ity ▁is ▁currently ▁in ▁negoti ations ▁with ▁an ▁un named ▁air line ▁to ▁start ▁regional ▁service ▁to ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁area ▁and ▁Baltimore ▁area . ▁▁ ▁As ▁per ▁Federal ▁A viation ▁Administration ▁records , ▁the ▁air port ▁had ▁ 3 , 4 4 9 ▁passenger ▁board ings ▁( en plan ements ) ▁in ▁calendar ▁year ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁ 5 , 3 3 5 ▁en plan ements ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁and ▁ 5 , 7 5 1 ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 . ▁It ▁is ▁included ▁in ▁the ▁National ▁Plan ▁of ▁Integr ated ▁Airport ▁Systems ▁for ▁ 2 0 1 1 – 2 0 1 5 , ▁which ▁categor ized ▁it ▁as ▁a ▁non - primary ▁commercial ▁service ▁air port ▁( between ▁ 2 , 5 0 0 ▁and ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁en plan ements ▁per ▁year ). ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁a ▁ 6 0 0 - foot , ▁$ 1 7 ▁million ▁run way ▁extension ▁project ▁was ▁completed ▁at ▁the ▁air port ▁to ▁accept ▁larger ▁plan es , ▁primarily ▁for ▁use ▁by ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Georgia . ▁ ▁Fac ilities ▁and ▁aircraft ▁ ▁Ath ens / Ben ▁E pp s ▁Airport ▁covers ▁an ▁area ▁of ▁ 4 2