Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) is now offering free masks for travelers courtesy of The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT hereafter). DOT recently announced their distribution of cloth facial coverings to the aviation, transit, and rail transportation sectors for passenger use.

“We appreciate this needed resource from DOT/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” said CAE Executive Director, Mike Gula. “We are working every day to ensure the safety of our travelers and having free masks available for passengers aids in our commitment to the well-being of everyone traveling through CAE.”

CAE received over 55,000 facial coverings from DOT. The masks are available at no cost to travelers and are available, at the information desk in the main lobby and in the line at the TSA Security checkpoint.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines serve CAE and each airline is requiring their passengers to wear a mask or face covering onboard their flights. Airlines have said that any passenger without a mask or face covering will be provided one at no charge.

Now with CAE’s supply of face masks as well as the airlines, travelers will have plenty of options to obtain a face mask should they not have one for their trip.

CAE continues to monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) for guidance, updates and information that pertain to COVID-19.

Internally, the CAE team continues to work with airline and concessionaire partners to review and implement measures to ensure the airport’s cleanliness and safety for our travelers and employees.

Terminal Preparedness:

• Additional hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the terminal and at all departure gates,
• Restrooms are being cleaned every one to two hours, but as traffic increases, cleanings will increase to hourly,
• Increased sanitizing is being done in the public seating areas and in the high touch areas such as handrails, escalators, and elevator buttons,
• The food concessionaire is serving a limited menu and practicing social distancing for diners,
• Plexiglas shields have been installed at airline counters, retail shops and at the restaurant. Employees are cleaning and sanitizing credit card machines after every use.

TSA/Security Checkpoint Preparedness:

• A Plexiglas shield has been installed at the check-in desk at TSA security checkpoint;
• Markers, to identify proper spacing, have been placed on the floor at TSA security checkpoint and at the retail store locations,

For continued COVID-19/Coronavirus updates, please visit our website at www.flycae.com and our social media channels.

Travelers are also reminded to contact their specific airline for updated travel information.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) continues to monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) for guidance, updates and information that pertains to COVID-19.

Internally, the CAE team continues to work with airline and concessionaire partners to review and implement measures to ensure the airport’s cleanliness and safety for our travelers and employees.

General Flight/Traveler Information:

• CAE remains open and operating,
• Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines are all operating at a reduced capacity,
• Each airline sets flight schedules as they see fit and can be adjusted at any time. Because of this, CAE encourages travelers to check with their respective airline before heading out to the airport,
• Each airline recently announced that they are requiring their passengers to wear a mask or face covering onboard their flights. American Airlines will begin this requirement on May 11, while Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will began the requirement on May 4. Airlines have said that any passenger without a mask or face covering will be provided one at no charge.

Terminal Preparedness:

• Additional hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the terminal and at all departure gates,
• Restrooms are being cleaned every two hours, but as traffic increases, cleanings will increase to hourly,
• Increased sanitizing is being done in the public seating areas and in the high touch areas such as handrails, escalators, and elevator buttons,
• The food concessionaire is serving a limited menu and practicing social distancing for diners,
• Retail shops are installing shields at all registers and employees will be cleaning and sanitizing credit card machines after every use.

TSA/Security Check Point Preparedness:

• A Plexiglas shield has been installed at the check-in desk at TSA security checkpoint;
• Markers, to identify proper spacing, have been placed on the floor at TSA security checkpoint and at the retail store locations,

For continued COVID-19/Coronavirus updates, please visit our website and our social media channels.

As a part of the overall brand refresh, Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) updated the welcome sign leading into the airport and tapped local sign manufacturer, Colite International, for the job.

“Keep the job local was a concerted effort by the team as we have such outstanding, capable companies right here in the Midlands,” said Executive Director, Mike Gula. “We encourage the community to Fly local, so in that same sentiment, we too want to support local.”

Colite International is a full-service sign manufacturer with over 70 years of experience in branding, engineering, fabrication, and project management. Proudly serving the world’s largest brands and dozens of Fortune 500 companies, Colite International is based and headquartered in Columbia, SC.

“Working with the team at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport has been an honor, said Colite International CEO, Marty Brown. “The airport is a major asset to our community and especially to Colite’s visitors from around the world. It is exciting to help create and see innovative signage that reflects the new branding, growth, and vision of our beloved airport.”

CAE unveiled their brand refresh earlier this year that featured a new logo and new website. The welcome sign and signage throughout the parking garage were also updated to reflect the new look and feel of the airport. For more information and to stay up to day on CAE happenings, please visit www.flycae.com.

About Colite International:
Colite International is a full-service sign manufacturer with over 70 years of experience in branding, engineering, fabrication, and project management. We proudly serve the world’s largest brands and dozens of Fortune 500 companies. Colite offers complete turnkey signage programs and services for any exterior and interior signage needs. Of the many services that Colite offers, we specialize in brand identity sign programs, ensuring the brand integrity of our clients through quality and consistent signage implementations.

During this unprecedented pandemic, commercial air travel world-wide has significantly declined.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport’s (CAE hereafter) cargo shipments, however, have seen a steady uptick; thanks in part to local manufacturer, Nephron Pharmaceuticals and international cargo carrier, UPS.

Supporting the fight against COVID-19, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, based in Columbia, SC, added hand sanitizer, drugs for respiratory inhalation therapy and nebulizers to their existing production portfolio. Last month alone, Nephron Pharmaceuticals shipped over 25,000 pieces out of CAE to hundreds of hospitals across the nation.

“Team Nephron has been working overtime to deliver life-saving respiratory medications to patients around the country, including solutions that treat symptoms of COVID-19,” said Nephron CEO and owner Lou Kennedy. “The only way we have been able to meet the demands of increased orders is by working together with partners like UPS and CAE. We are grateful for our partners, and we are grateful for the opportunity to play an important role in the nation’s response to the pandemic. We cannot overstate how important the local UPS hub is to our business. Having them based out of Columbia Metropolitan Airport, our local airport, is instrumental to the sustainability of our healthcare operation.”

Nephron Pharmaceuticals, with a manufacturing partner, plans to launch a new product this year which will ship direct to patients around the country. This large scale project will commence in September 2020 and is slated for 200,000 monthly shipments by May 2021 – mostly utilizing UPS small package air service out of CAE.

During the month of April, UPS is increasing the number of company-owned and chartered air freighter flights by more than 185 in response to customer orders. The company is flexing capacity to meet soaring customer demand to ship test kits, personal protective equipment and other supplies necessary to the global Coronavirus response effort.

“We understand the important role of logistics during a global crisis like the Coronavirus,” said Dan Gagnon, vice president of UPS Healthcare Marketing. “In times like these, we are all the more proud to support healthcare organizations like Nephron and deploy our capabilities to help get much-needed medicines, equipment and supplies into hospitals and clinics where they can save lives.”

Over the years, CAE has consistently been a top producing cargo hub in the nation, as well as within the state – leading all other airports. Serving as the home for UPS operations, cargo drastically rose in 2019 to moving some 76,194 tons – an 11% increase over 2018 and up 22% from 2014. By comparison, Charleston International Airport handled roughly 47, 976 tons of cargo in 2019.

A vital part of the overall operations taking place at CAE, cargo provides and keeps hundreds of jobs within the community.

“The robust cargo operation in place at Columbia Metropolitan Airport is one that many aren’t aware of or fully know the economic impact it has on the region and state,” said Mike Gula, Executive Director of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. “CAE serves all of South Carolina and even portions of surrounding states. For outbound freight, feeder flights and truck shipments arrive at CAE daily from our surrounding airports, businesses, and cities before being sorted and distributed through our integrated carriers – UPS and others. This process is reversed for inbound freight. Key businesses benefit from the proximity to CAE, including Nephron and others, but even small businesses in the Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Customer (B2C) e-commerce space require these logistics networks to succeed in today’s economy.”

About UPS:
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. UPS was awardedAmerica’s Best Customer Service company for Shipping and Delivery services by Newsweek magazine; Forbes Most Valuable Brand in Transportation; and top rankings on the JUST 100 list for social responsibility, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and the Harris Poll Reputation Quotient, among other prestigious rankings and awards. The company can be found on the web at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at ups.com/longitudes The company’s sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter. To ship with UPS, visit ups.com/ship.

About Nephron Pharmaceuticals:
Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products that can be used to treat symptoms associated with COVID-19. In addition, the company operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes and IV bags for hospitals across America, in an effort to alleviate their drug shortage needs.

at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)

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As of August 7, 2020:

Statement from Columbia Metropolitan Airport:

With the recent outbreak of Coronavirus, identified as a respiratory disease, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) has been closely monitoring updates issued from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to remain as up to date and informed on the status of this disease as possible for our travelers.

Public health experts recommend the following best practices to increase the likelihood of preventing illness:

• Washing hands frequently,
• Avoiding contact with people who are sick,
• Staying home when sick and
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces

At CAE, we too are taking extra precautions to include:

• Increased sanitizing in the public seating areas
• Deeper and more frequent cleanings in the restrooms
• Hand sanitizing stations are available Pre- and Post-Security Checkpoint
• Offering free masks to all of our travelers

Should you have any concerns regarding flying or the status of your flight, we encourage you to check with your airline directly. For more information on the virus and precautionary measures in place please visit the Center for Disease Control’s website. Should you have any questions, please send us a message.

Airport/Tenant Closures, Temporary Hours, Reduced Service Updates:

Republic Parking, the parking service company in place at CAE, will discontinue valet parking services until further notice.

Carolina Concessions, CAE’s food service provider, will temporarily close The Sky Café, Carolina Subs and The BBQ Pit until future notice. Riverbanks Bar & Grille will remain open with a modified and limited menu. Additionally, signage has been put in place encouraging travelers to practice social distancing while dining.

Red Eye Express, the mobile coffee cart located in the connector, has temporarily closed and will reopen when able.

Paradies, CAE’s retail shop provider, will have adjusted hours at all three locations. Columbia Travelmart, the bookstore, will now be open from 4:30 am – 7:30 pm or when the last flight boards. News & Gifts (in the main lobby) will be open from 4:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Capitol Marketplace (in the Delta gates) will be closed until further notice.  

Finally, USO at CAE has discontinued volunteer services at the information and welcome desk until further notice. Should any traveler have any questions or need anything, they are encouraged to call 803.822.5050.

Airline Updates and Information:

We encourage those individuals who are traveling to stay updated on the latest news and developments from their airline of choice. Direct links to the airlines that service Columbia Metropolitan Airport are below.

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

United Airlines

Passenger traffic at CAE in 2019 was up… way up! 1,353,788 passengers traveled through the airport – a 13.03% increase over 2018. 

“2018 was the best year we had in a decade and 2019 just beat that record,” said Mike Gula, Executive Director of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. “With passenger traffic up 13.03%, we’re thankful to the Midlands community for utilizing CAE. The more passengers that consider and choose CAE, the more opportunities we, along with our partner airlines, will be able to provide.”

With increased passenger traffic, new flights, new amenities for passengers, continued green energy savings and an updated parking system launching soon, CAE certainly ended 2019 on a high note. 

Some of the highlights from 2019 include: 

• CAE saw a 13.03% increase in passenger traffic in 2019, with 1,353,788 passengers flying through the airport,
  
• American Airlines and Delta Air Lines added nonstop service to New York/LaGuardia – bringing the total number of options to travel to New York City through CAE to three. Additionally, American Airlines added a nonstop route to Miami, Florida – opening the Caribbean to Midlands area residents,
  
• A Mamava nursing pod was installed in August – National Breast Feeding Month – providing traveling mothers with a safe, clean, secure location to nurse their children that isn’t the restroom,
  
• With upgraded lighting fixtures and HVAC system, CAE’s green energy initiatives generated over $430,000 worth of energy revenue and savings, and
  
• Within the first few months of 2020, passengers will be able to park with ease in the garage with the help of a new parking guidance system. The system utilizes red and green lights over each parking spot signifying if a spot is available or not. 

“We’re very pleased with the success we saw in 2019 and look forward to another strong year in 2020,” said Gula. “We encourage everyone to continue flying with us, and stay tuned for more news and information coming out of CAE in the near future.”

Passenger traffic at Columbia Metropolitan Airport continues its growth trend with an 8.48% increase in departing passengers September year-to-date over the same nine month period in 2017. In the month of September, 84,799 passengers used the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. This reflects an 8.82% increase over September 2017.

Delta Air Lines has increased its mainline jet service at CAE thus increasing the number of airline seats available between Columbia and its hub in Atlanta. In June, American Airlines began mainline jet service with a 140-seat aircraft on its nonstop flights to the Dallas/Ft. Worth hub.

United Airlines recently increased airline seats available at CAE by adding flights to their Chicago and Washington Dulles hubs. Air Wisconsin, a regional carrier operating as United Express, opened its newest flight crew base at Columbia on October 1. And, Via Airlines recently announced nonstop service to Orlando, Florida beginning December 3. Tickets can be purchased now at www.flyviaair.com.

American, Delta, and United Airlines currently serve Columbia with 62 daily nonstop flights to 9 hub airports in 8 major cities.

Passengers traveling through Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) will now be greeted with a pop-up art installation inspired by the Columbia Museum of Art’s (CMA hereafter) newest exhibition, Van Gogh and His Inspirations. 

“It is always an objective of the Columbia Museum of Art to give people, travelers in this case, a place to enjoy art, information and ideas,” says Della Watkins, CMA executive director. “I hope many enjoy the CAE corridor filled with the natural beauty of South Carolina and beyond.” 

The airport exhibition is complete with a multimedia CMA TAP Tour, allowing travelers to take a deeper dive into the history and meaning behind each piece of art. 

Also within the footprint of the airport exhibition is En Plein Air: Scenes of South Carolina, a collection of works featuring four outstanding South Carolina artists who, within their artistic range, like Van Gogh paint “en plein air” or outdoors. 

“We’re always looking for ways to bring a bit of the community into the airport to create a strong sense of place for our traveling passengers,” said CAE Executive Director, Mike Gula. “The Columbia region is full of exciting attractions and happenings and to partner with our nationally recognized art museum was an easy, and beautiful, decision.” 

The mini exhibition at CAE and the full exhibition at CMA will both be on display until January 12, 2020. 

About the Columbia Museum of Art:
The Columbia Museum of Art is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong learning and community enrichment for all. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, S.C., the CMA ranks among the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its innovative exhibitions and creative educational programs. At the heart of the CMA and its programs is its collection, which encompasses 7,000 works and spans 5,000 years of art history. Established in 1950, the CMA now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually and is a catalyst for community creativity and education, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds. It is the recipient of a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education, a National Park Foundation Award, and two Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Awards for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina. In order to serve even more audiences, the CMA recently underwent a transformation. Funded by a successful capital campaign, the two-year renovation project garnered new collection galleries with a progressive thematic layout, new studios for artmaking, cutting-edge program and event spaces, an entrance on Main Street, and a revamped CMA shop. Overall, more than 15,000 square feet of functional space were added to the building’s existing footprint. To learn more, visit columbiamuseum.org.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) continues to see strong and steady growth into Q3 of 2019. In August, passenger traffic increased 9.15% over July with 120,648 passengers traveling through CAE during the month. Year-to date traffic stats show a 17% increase over the same travel period in 2018 with 898,024 passengers traveling through CAE.

“Month over month we’re seeing strong passenger traffic numbers,” says Mike Gula, Executive Director of CAE. “These numbers are keeping us on pace to hopefully end the year with a 17 – 19% increase over 2018.” 

A recap of 2019 to date reflects continued growth for CAE in a number of areas:

• American Airlines announced new nonstop service to Miami beginning Thursday, December 19^th. The new daily flight will depart CAE at 7:12 a.m. and will arrive in MIA at 8:58 a.m. The return flight will depart MIA at 9:49 p.m. and will return to CAE at 11:47 p.m. The initial service will be on an ERJ – 145; a 50-passenger regional jet. (Tickets are on sale now at www.aa.com.)
  
• This Fall CAE will begin work on various projects to enhance the travelers’ experience, including a new parking guidance system in the parking garage, the replacement of all escalators in the terminal and parking garage and a new in-line baggage system, moving all bag screeners behind the ticket desks.
• In an effort to highlight Midlands-based industries that have an international reach, CAE partnered with Samsung to host a display in the main lobby showcasing the company’s washers that are assembled locally in Newberry, SC. The plant was established in 2017 and employs 800 South Carolinians. 

“Columbia Metropolitan Airport is and continues to move forward with considerable momentum and we are looking forward to what 2020 will bring,” said Gula. “We’re grateful for the community’s on-going support and ask everyone to continue to Fly Local.”

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) and Riverbanks Zoo and Garden today unveiled a new addition on the concourse – a Mamava lactation and breastfeeding pod. The private, secure suite provides mothers with a new option for breastfeeding and pumping while traveling. 

“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our traveler’s experience,” said Mike Gula, Executive Director of CAE. “The Mamava pod is an offering needed for our traveling mothers that is currently not available on the airside, and with this partnership with the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, we’re glad to be able to provide this to them.”

Mamava pods are accessed remotely through the Mamava Pump and Nursing Finder App. Once registered, mothers will be sent a code specific to the CAE unit granting access to the suite.

While inside the pod, mothers will be able to use the app to dim the lights and control airflow. Additionally, mothers will have access to roomy benches, space for a stroller and a place to plug in a pump. 

“Riverbanks is proud to partner with the Columbia Metropolitan Airport which serves as a gateway to our region for many travelers,” said Tommy Stringfellow, president and CEO at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “The Mamava pod provides a convenient, intimate space for traveling mothers who choose to breastfeed and pump in private while giving users and passersby a glimpse of some of our zoo babies.”

About the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of America’s best public gardens. The Zoo opened on April 25, 1974, and for more than four decades, has connected individuals, families and school children with the natural world. Riverbanks is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in animal care and welfare, education, recreation, science and wildlife conservation. It is the mission of the Zoo and Garden to create meaningful connections and inspire actions that will have a lasting impact on conservation. For more information, visit www.riverbanks.org.