During the first part of 2024 the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) saw 646,013 (January – June 2024) passengers through the terminal. In May alone, the airport saw 123,008 passengers – an increase of nearly 19,000 passengers over May of 2023 and exceeding the previously highest month in the history of the airport set back in 2019.
“We’re seeing a significant surge in passenger traffic through the airport this year and we couldn’t be happier to have such a lively and active terminal every day,” said President & CEO, Mike Gula. “Historically, we see a dip in passenger traffic at the start of the year with an uptick starting in late Q1. This year, it has been a consistent increase of travelers from January 1 to today.”
In 2019 CAE ended the year seeing roughly 1.3 million passengers through the airport – the highest traffic CAE had seen in 10 years. This year, CAE is currently on track to end the year at or just above its 2019 numbers.
By way of a month-to-month passenger traffic comparison:
• May of 2019 saw 122,099
• May of 2023 saw 104,267
• May of 2024 saw 123,008
Additional air service and route options also played a factor in the increased passenger traffic. In June, American Airlines restarted its nonstop seasonal service to Miami (with Saturday only service through August).
Re-establishing and surpassing pre-pandemic passenger traffic has been the main goal and priority for CAE.
With a focus on improving efficiencies and updating amenities from the garage to the airlines’ gates, as well as ensuring passengers’ experience in the terminal is smooth and easy, the end goal – and hope – of the CAE team is to encourage continued use and loyalty of our local airport by just that… locals.