4/ 5 reviews
FBO & ground handling
“Chris at the FBO went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and hydrated, offering genuine southern hospitality that made a stressful situation so much easier to handle.”
Scott Mullins5★ on Google
Airports / Georgia / AYS
Small airport · AYS
Waycross Ware County Airport.
Waycross, Georgia · 142 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.6/5
Google rating
35 ratings
0
Operators based
142
Elevation ft
Waycross, GeorgiaELEV 142 FTSmall airport
4.6
Google rating
35
Google reviews
ratings on Google
142
Field elevation
feet above sea level
44
Nearest alternate
nm to VAD
Field standing
#16 / 39
Georgia airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 35 Google ratings , ranked against 39 rated GA fields.
44 nm
To the nearest alternate
Moody Air Force Base (VAD), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Waycross, Georgia, Waycross Ware County Airport (KAYS / AYS) operates as a general aviation field. The airport sits 142 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into AYS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Moody Air Force Base (VAD, 44 nm), Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK, 48 nm), and St Simons Island Airport (SSI, 52 nm). With 3 runways, the longest 5,992-foot paved runway, AYS can typically accommodate aircraft as large as heavy jets.
Charter pricing from AYS depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Waycross.
Run an FBO at KAYS? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“If you’re looking for an airport where people truly care and professionalism meets kindness, Waycross Airport is the place.”
Scott Mullins5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Chris at the FBO went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and hydrated, offering genuine southern hospitality that made a stressful situation so much easier to handle.”
Scott Mullins5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Waycross Ware County Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KAYS
IATA
AYS
FAA / Local
AYS
Elevation
142 ft
Coordinates
31.2491° N · 82.3955° W
Airspace
E · EchoClass E, EchoControlled airspace reaches the surface for instrument approaches, but there is no control tower on the field.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs GA fields
state range 19–1,535 ft
At 142 ft, AYS sits lower than 87% of the 69 Georgia fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 5,992 ft
- 01/195,992 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
- 05/235,044 ft × 100 ftAsphaltUnlit
- 13/313,554 ft × 75 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,992 ft
AYS's 5,992 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to heavy jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 44nmVADMoody Air Force BaseValdosta
- 48nmBQKBrunswick Golden Isles AirportBrunswick
- 52nmSSISt Simons Island AirportSt Simons Island
- 53nmVLDValdosta Regional AirportValdosta
- 58nmJAXJacksonville International AirportJacksonville
- 67nmVQQCecil AirportJacksonville
Location
Open the full mapKAYS · Waycross Ware County Airport · Waycross, GA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from AYS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 300 nm | 1h 6m |
| Miami (MIA) | 346 nm | 1h 12m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 362 nm | 1h 15m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 522 nm | 1h 37m |
| Houston (HOU) | 673 nm | 1h 58m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 696 nm | 2h 1m |
| New York (TEB) | 703 nm | 2h 2m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 741 nm | 2h 7m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use AYS?
- Waycross Ware County Airport's longest paved runway is 5,992 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to heavy jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at AYS?
- Waycross Ware County Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 5,992 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to AYS?
- The closest alternate is Moody Air Force Base (VAD), about 44 nm away, followed by Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK) at 48 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from AYS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Palm Beach about 1h 6m (300 nm), Miami about 1h 12m (346 nm), Nashville about 1h 15m (362 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.