Conversations ongoing about bringing more airlines to Columbia as flight use increases

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ).

As of March, there was a 24% increase from the same point in 2022 in Columbia Regional Airport's ability to fill seats on its planes, according to the airport's 2023 passenger load factors.

Typically, five flights fly out of the airport each day.

"We continue talking to American (Airlines) and additional airlines. Really, having that new terminal, having the improvements that we've made in the infrastructure at the airport, makes those conversations a lot easier," Mike Parks, manager at Columbia Regional Airport said. "And the airlines can see the benefits and the support from the Mid-Missouri region for additional flights."

Columbia Regional Airport is currently served by American Airlines with flights to Chicago-O'Hare and Dallas/Ft. Worth.

"We've really set ourselves up well from everything that we can do as a city, as a community. We've created a beautiful new terminal that has the capacity to have multiple airplanes land and take off at the same time and we also have the demand. Our community really, really supports our airport," said Matt Jenne, owner of Addison's and Sophia's restaurants and member of the airport advisory board.

Tourism in Columbia is also on the rise. Hotel occupancy for March 2023 was 60% in comparison to 39% in March 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19, according to Columbia Visitors Bureau data.

"As far as tourism in CoMo goes, we are back to the 2019 level as far as hotel occupancy goes and the same goes for hotel tax revenues," said Megan McConachie, strategic communications manager for Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Hotel occupancy in Columbia was at 57% in March 2019.

"We really kind of consider the beginning of our busy season kind of back in February, when we have state wrestling championships here," McConachie said. "And then it keeps pushing forward and definitely with graduation coming up and all of those other events with different institutions of higher learning."

"I think that we are, as a destination, in a really good spot to continue to grow, and even exceed those pre-pandemic numbers."