Columbia Regional Airport launching shuttle service for new south parking lot
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Regional Airport is rolling out a new shuttle service starting Monday as airport leaders work to accommodate growing travel demand.
Airport officials announced travelers parked in the new south parking lot will now be able to take a shuttle directly to the terminal. The change comes after the airport added about 250 new parking spots and paved another 175 existing spaces over the last couple of months.
For many Mid-Missourians, flying out of Columbia offers a more convenient option than driving to larger airports in St. Louis or Kansas City.
“I like here because it’s two hours down there. Here you just pop in and out,” said Kofi Asamoah-Boadu, a Jefferson City resident who said he uses the airport about twice a month. “Yeah, it’s a lot easier, closer to Jeff City than a two-hour drive.”
As more travelers choose Columbia Regional Airport, officials said parking demand is continuing to grow.
In February, the Columbia City Council unanimously approved an amendment to its fiscal year 2026 budget to help build a new 600-space gravel lot south of the terminal near Angel Lane. The proposal included $400,000 from the transportation sales tax fund. Airport staff said additional parking is necessary to keep up with increasing ridership.
According to the airport’s 2026 master plan, Columbia Regional Airport currently has about 1,000 parking spaces, but officials estimate demand could eventually grow to as many as 1,600 spaces.
The report said improvements to parking and traffic flow are needed to better serve future travelers.
“There’s a lot of people that park here and they be gone for a long time before they come back,” Asamoah-Boadu said. “Parking is always full. So that will be a good idea.”
According to the airports website travels leaving their vehcile for more than 30 days has to fill out a form.
Marla James, a Jefferson City resident was picking up her daughter Saturday morning. She said she loves that the airport is finding new ways to expand parking.
“I would be 100% agreeable. It is needed,” said Marla James, a Jefferson City resident. “Unfortunately, I had to drive around and around trying to find a spot to park.”
Airport officials said the south lot can hold about 700 vehicles, and the shuttle will operate daily from 4 a.m. until midnight.
The shuttle includes 15 passenger seats and rear luggage storage for larger bags. Officials said a round trip between the terminal and south lot takes about 10 minutes, depending on passenger loading and unloading.
Airport officials also said vehicles currently parked in non-designated areas, including grassy areas and curbsides, will be relocated to the south lot Sunday evening. Travelers returning Monday morning or later should be prepared to use the shuttle to retrieve their vehicles.
The changes come just days before Allegiant Air is scheduled to begin its first flight out of Columbia on Wednesday.
