Columbia Regional Airport expects new destinations when terminal is completed
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Regional Airport will add new destinations after a new terminal is completed in 2022.
Columbia Regional Airport broke ground on the new terminal Tuesday morning at an event that included remarks from Gov. Mike Parson and US Sen. Roy Blunt.
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said the new space would allow flights to several new locations.
"The additional room would allow us to have daily flights to Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte and a new airport terminal is going to accommodate that nicely," he said.
The U.S. Department of Transportation in February awarded the city an $800,000 grant to help provide support for nonstop daily American Airlines flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, but the flights were not added.
Treece said right now with the limited space in the current airport terminal, adding a flight to Charlotte is not possible, but expects new flights after the new terminal is built.
The terminal is part of a $20 million airport improvement project that started in March 2015. The terminal project is partially funded with a 1% tax on hotel rooms passed by voters in August 2016. The tax has raised $1,782,693.35 in total.
Leaders from the Columbia, Boone County and Jefferson City governments spoke at the groundbreaking. Parson delivered remarks in person but Blunt's were recorded as he attends to business in Washington, D.C.
Watch a replay of the event in the player below.
Parson said this new terminal is a great opportunity for Columbia and the state of Missouri.
"It's all about marketing, people want to come where there is a nice facility where they have a great spot to come to and do their business," he said.
The governor said even with the set back the airport has endured due to the pandemic, the airport will get back to where it was before.
"People are still coming here bringing their businesses even in the time of the virus and when all of this comes together we are still going to need the airport and in the long run it is going to pay off," Parson said.
University of Missouri Chancellor Mun Choi said the expanded flights will also impact college students.
"With students from all 50 states and hundreds of counties around the world, access to this airport will elevate the reputation of our university and have a great impact," Choi said.
Treece said the new terminal is set to be finished in the summer of 2022.
Check back for more information or watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6.
