Columbia Regional Airport to get 600 more parking spaces to meet rising demand
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Customer demand at the Columbia Regional Airport is expected to surge as American Airlines expands its flight schedule, United Airlines returns, and Allegiant Airlines adds new service.
The increasing number of passengers flying in and out of COU has sparked the need for additional parking. To address the issue, the city on Monday night unanimously passed an amendment to its fiscal 2026 budget to build a new 600-spot gravel lot south of the terminal near Angel Lane.
The proposal sought $400,000 from the transportation sales tax. Airport staff says increased parking is critical for accommodating growing ridership.
Longtime Columbia resident Patricia Carl lives right down the street from the airport. She said more parking would be beneficial.
“It just seems like the parking lot is full," Carl said Monday. "I've never seen this many cars here.”
She believes many flyers find the free parking a perk.
“When I'm comparing my airfare in the parking as to which airport I'm going to use, that really gives Columbia [Regional] Airport an advantage," Carl said.
But she said having more spaces available would be beneficial.
"We want people to know that we will be ready for all of the new flights beginning this year," Airport Manager Mike Parks wrote in an email.
According to city documents, the southside parking lot would be an interim but necessary solution.
"This new lot will serve the immediate needs for parking and will also allow overflow parking as we continue expanding and paving lots closer to the terminal," Parks wrote in an email.
Plans to pursue longer‑term, paved parking improvements are in the works, city documents say.
The southside lot would be about eight-tenths of a mile from the terminal. Parks said COU would shuttle parkers given how far away it is.
Monday night's approval allows construction of the parking lot to begin this year. Parks said the airport hopes to get the lot done before more flights start in June.
The project would include erosion control measures, grading, base rock installation, compacted stone surfaces and upgraded entrances and exits.
