News & Media

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) has been awarded $5 million after its application was selected as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. CAE was one of 99 airports (of the nearly 383 primary commercial service airports) from across the country to receive funding for various projects and improvements to facilities, ensuring more efficient airports. 

The funding will come from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Terminals Program (ATP) fund. CAE was only one of two airports in South Carolina to receive funding from the 2023 program.

From a statement put out by the Biden Harris Administration, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented: “Americans deserve the best airports in the world, and with demand for air travel surging back, this funding to improve the passenger experience comes at the right time. These grants will make it faster and easier to check your bags, get through security and find your gate, all while creating jobs and supporting local economies.”

The funding will support CAE’s checkpoint modernization project that will begin this summer. Within the scope of that project, CAE will look to widen the checkpoint increasing the number of screening lanes – allowing for more passengers to be screened in less time.

“These funds will enhance the overall passenger experience at CAE, providing a more streamlined, effective and easy screening experience for our passengers,” says Executive Director, Mike Gula. “We are thankful for this financial support to begin work and look forward to continuing to grow this airport for good.”

CAE’s current master plan predicts that the airport will exceed *800,000 enplanements in the next five years – a major driver for this expansion project to take place now. (*For comparison, in 2022, CAE had 527,599 enplanements).

Recently, CAE completed phase II of a multi-phase Common Use and Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS) project in the main lobby and entrance of the airport. The Common Use system allows ticket desks and ticketing kiosks to operate universally (no matter the airline) creating a seamless transaction process for both airline partners and passengers. The CBIS replaced the need for external scanners and increased the amount of checked bags able to be processed on any given day. Additionally, now passengers do not have to walk bags over to a scanner – they are processed at the ticket counter and handled by airline agents.

“We are regularly researching and studying ways to improve the passenger experience here at CAE,” said Director of Development and Planning, Frank Murray. “These funds will allow us to continue working on improvements and enhancements that will have a positive effect on our passengers travel journey.”

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is excited to announce that it will be relaunching its in-terminal therapy dog program – with a new name – “Paws to Pet CAEnines,” beginning this Sunday, March 5.

“We are thrilled to be able to restart this program and welcome these cuddly canines back into the airport,” said Director of Marketing and Air Service Development, Kim J. Crafton. “Traveling can be stressful, and while we’ve made concerted efforts to ensure the overall experience at CAE is an easy one, this is a fun way we can carry those efforts across every touchpoint of the airport.”

The popular program was offline for some time due to COVID-19 restrictions and general safety precautions focused on reducing contact points. Now, on a rotating basis, CAE will host roughly 12 trained therapy dogs in the airport to interact with traveling passengers.

All of the participating pooches are currently certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and have all needed vaccines to engage with the public.

“The program will be run by our Director of Business Diversity and Tenant Relations, Tamie Head, as well as the volunteer dog handlers,” continues Crafton. “The times the dogs will be in the airport will vary depending on volunteer’s schedules but keep an eye out and make sure to meet and greet these sweet dogs when you see them on your next trip through the airport.”

The breeds of the therapy dogs range from Schnoodles, Labradoodles and Goldendoodles, to Dachshund mixes, Labrador mixes and Boykin Spaniels. More information about each of the therapy dogs who are participating in “Paws to Pet CAEnines” will be shared on our social media channels.

Be sure to follow CAE on social for all of the latest news and travel updates, as well as stay connected to our “Paws to Pet CAEnines” by following Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Are you interested in having your dog trained to be a future therapy dog? For more information on how to start the process, please visit www.therapydogs.com.

American Airlines has announced that it will be starting a new nonstop route from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) beginning July 6, 2023. The route is available now to be booked on the American Airlines website.

“American Airlines is delighted to offer new service between Columbia Metropolitan Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport starting this July,” said Philippe Puech, American Airlines Director of Short-Haul Network Planning. “With seven destinations from CAE this summer, American is excited to offer customers more ways to experience all the Palmetto State has to offer while providing local residents more access to American’s global network.”

The new daily service will begin on Thursday, July 6^th, departing from CAE at 7:14 a.m. and arriving at ORD at 8:38 a.m. Currently, the aircraft type slated to be used for this route will be a CRJ-200, a 50-seat regional jet.

“The addition of another American Airlines route shows the confidence the airline has in this market, as well as the active response from the community in continuing to utilize this airport and its airline’s route offerings,” said Director of Marketing and Air Service Development, Kim J. Crafton. “We look forward to seeing CAE bustling this summer with travelers taking advantage of this flight and the many others available.”

Of the three carriers at CAE, American Airlines offers the most nonstop flights. This new daily flight will bring the total number of nonstop destinations to seven:

• Charlotte, N.C.
• Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
• Miami, Fla. – Restarting June 3, 2023
• New York City, N.Y. – Restarting May 5, 2023
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• Washington, DC (Reagan National)
• Chicago, Il. – Starting July 6, 2023

“We are so thankful to the American Airlines team for their commitment to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport and the Columbia community,” said Executive Director of CAE, Mike Gula. “We ask that the community continue to support local, by flying local. The more the Midlands region residents fly out of CAE, the more opportunities like this new route we’ll see.”

American Airlines has announced that it will be restarting its nonstop service from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) to Miami International Airport (MIA) beginning June 3, 2023. The route will be available to book on the American Airlines website starting tomorrow, Saturday, February 11, 2023. 

“American Airlines continues to add service into the Columbia market creating a robust roster of nonstop destinations that directly benefits our valued passengers, ” said Director of Marketing and Air Service Development, Kim J. Crafton. “While only a seasonal offering right now, we hope that the community will choose to fly this route and potentially show the airline need for year-round service.”

The returning seasonal service from CAE will begin on Saturday, June 3 and conclude on August 12. The flight is currently scheduled to depart CAE at 7:25 a.m. and arrive at MIA at 9:20 a.m. The aircraft type slated to be used for this route will be an E170 or E175, with roughly 65 – 76 seats configured into business and economy classes. (Flight times and aircraft type are subject to change).

A hub to international destinations, this service will allow passengers to connect and continue on to popular tropical locations like Aruba, Jamaica and Barbados.  

Of the three carriers at CAE, American Airlines offers the most nonstop flights to the following destinations: 

• Charlotte, N.C.
• Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
• Miami, Fla. – Restarting June 3, 2023
• New York City, N.Y. – Restarting May 5, 2023
• Philadelphia, Pa.
• Washington, DC (Reagan National)

“The return of this American Airlines service shows that this community continues to consider and choose CAE to fly out of when making their air travel plans,” said Executive Director of CAE, Mike Gula. “We are thankful for the ongoing support and appreciate each and every person that sees the value in flying locally.”

Final numbers are in, and in 2022 CAE welcomed over one million passengers through the airport – a 21% increase over 2021’s passenger traffic.

In total, CAE saw 527,599 enplanements (those travelers starting their travel journey at CAE) and a total of 1,063,630 total passengers through the airport – including those passengers with one-way tickets to CAE.

“The consistent year-over-year growth in passenger traffic CAE has had since 2020 has been welcomed,” said Mike Gula, Executive Director of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. “We are thankful for the ongoing support of this community in utilizing this airport. With the sustained increase in passenger traffic, CAE will be positioned to see additional air service in 2023, as well as infrastructure and in-terminal updates and expansions that will make traveling through the airport that much easier for our valued passengers.”

CAE’s passenger traffic since 2019:

2019
1,353,788
*10-year record for CAE

2020
577,187

2021
877,806

CAE saw a significant spike in passenger traffic in the summer months of 2022 – with June seeing 103,686 passengers, July seeing 100,656 passengers and August seeing 94,864 passengers respectively – CAE had roughly 299,200 passengers through the airport during this specific time period. By way of comparison, during those same months in 2021, CAE saw roughly 259,600 passengers – a 15.24% increase year over year for June, July and August.

CAE’s air service also saw a notable uptick in flight options for passengers toward the end of 2022 heading into 2023:

• In November of 2022, American Airlines announced that it would be restarting its nonstop service from CAE to LGA (LaGuardia Airport). *This will be the second nonstop to LGA for CAE. Delta Air Lines also serves CAE to LGA.
• In December of 2022, American Airlines announced it would be increasing CAE’s nonstop flights from five to seven times per day between CAE and CLT (Charlotte Douglas International Airport).
• And United Airlines announced in late December that they too would be increasing service to three times per day between CAE and ORD (Chicago O’Hare International Airport).

“Our ongoing air service efforts have paid off as we see an increase of air service options for our passengers,” said Kim J. Crafton, Director of Marketing and Air Service Development. “Increasing routes and nonstop destinations is always a top priority for our team. Additionally, we have had a number of positive conversations with several low-cost carriers that will hopefully come to fruition in 2023 for CAE and the Columbia community.” For a complete list of all of CAE’s nonstop destinations, please visit www.flycae.com.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) is excited to announce the four local artists that have been selected to participate in the 2023 – 2024 Art in the Airport program. The selected artists, represent some of the outstanding talent and creativity found throughout the region.

The four artists selected to exhibit their artwork in the airport for the upcoming season include:

Shaina Manuel – March 2023-May 2023

Michael Cruz – June 2023-August 2023

Candace Thibeault – September 2023-November 2023

Karen Petta December – December 2023-February 2024

About the Artists:

Shaina Manuel (Top Left) was born and raised in Northern Virginia, but currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina where she works as a public-school teacher. She does commission pieces and personal artwork in her free time. She finds her inspiration often comes unexpectedly but gravitates toward the human body. She describes her works as detailed, with bold colors and compositions that catch your eye.

Michael Angelo Cruz (Bottom Right) was born the fourth child out of six brothers and sisters. His father is Spanish, and his mother is full-blooded Native American from the Six Nations reservation, Cayuga, Turtle clan. His mother used to tell him that she had a strong intuition he would be an artist- and that’s where the name Michael Angelo comes from. Over the years he has tried his hands in all type of art, including soap stone carvings, watercolor, pencil, ink, clay, air brush, acrylics, oils, and pastels. Cruz was born and raised in upstate New York, but currently lives in Elgin, South Carolina.

Candace Thibeault (Bottom Left) grew up in South Carolina and fell in love with exploring mediums and color at a very young age. She spent summers in high school participating in creative arts programs that would fuel her creative interests. It was in college that she began painting murals, painting her university’s first on campus mural. 

In 2003, Candace graduated from Capital University, Columbus OH with a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree, Public Relations, and Art Therapy. She later moved to Boston, where she purchased a South Boston art gallery that she would own and operate for 11 years. Candace worked exclusively as a corporate art supplier; framing and choosing works for educational institutions, restaurants, architectural firms, and pharmaceutical companies. Outside of work, Candace worked as an artist in residence for a charter school, providing therapeutic visual art activities for at risk youth.

In 2006, Candace began experimenting with mixed media, and stumbled upon a style of art that she quickly adopted as her own. Since the start of her contemporary art career, Candace has had work in various galleries in Boston, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Her work has found its home in many private and corporate collections.  She has had her work featured in The Charlotte Magazine, Art New England Magazine and Artscope Magazine (A Boston publication). Candace has had the opportunity to display her work throughout Columbia, in such places as 701 Whaley, Motor Supply Co. Bistro, Bourbon Columbia and the University of South Carolina. She has had the honor of working with such organizations as the SC Native Plant Society and the Columbia Audubon Society to create images for their 2022 campaigns. Candace currently resides in Gilbert, SC where she paints and teaches full time from her home studio.

Karen Petta (Top Right) has been passionate about drawing, painting, sculpting and all things art since she was a small child. She studied psychology in college and graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she then became a therapist concentrating on treatment for post-traumatic stress, behavioral disorders, and mood disorders. In 2005, she and her family moved to South Carolina – where she decided to do art full-time and opened a hands-on studio in Lexington. She has since sold the studio to focus more on her family and her own painting and creativity. Petta says she is “grateful to be in South Carolina during this part of my artistic journey.”

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“CAE’s Art in the Airport program provides a fantastic opportunity and picturesque platform for local artists to showcase their works of art and unbelievably creative minds,” said Kim J. Crafton, CAE’s Director of Marketing and Air Service Development. “Additionally, this program enhances our travelers’ experience, while simultaneously creating a sense of regional place within the airport. Once a traveler lands, these works of art will be the first artistic and cultural touchpoints they have to Columbia, S.C. and the region.”

Each exhibit will be in the connector of the terminal, the walkway between the security checkpoint and the departure/arrival gates.

CAE would like to thank all the artists who submitted works to be a part of this third season of the Art in the Airport program. The entire team here at CAE looks forward to more opportunities in the future, through the Art in the Airport program, to showcase this region’s multi-talented arts community. For more information about the Art in the Airport program, as well as other happenings around the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, please visit www.flycae.com.

American Airlines announced earlier today that beginning May 5, 2023, it will be restarting its daily, nonstop service from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA). This route will be available to book starting tomorrow, Saturday, December 10^th.

“The return of this nonstop service is the last route needed to reestablish CAE’s nonstop destination roster to its pre-pandemic status,” said Director of Marketing and Air Service Development, Kim J. Crafton. “We are thrilled to have such a strong airline partner in American Airlines and appreciate their robust presence in our market.”

Currently, this flight is scheduled to depart CAE at 4:40 p.m. and arrive at LGA at 6:40 p.m. The return of this service and proposed afternoon schedule provides a second flight option for passengers heading to New York City from CAE.

“American Airlines is excited to restart service between Columbia Metropolitan Airport and New York LaGuardia Airport in May,” said Philippe Puech, American Airlines Director of Domestic Network Planning. “We’re pleased to offer local residents with greater access to American’s global network and connect more customers to the Palmetto State.”

The aircraft type slated to be used for this route will be an E170 or E175, with roughly 65 – 76 seats configured into business and economy classes.

CAE offers nonstop service to seven destinations and eight airports:

• Atlanta, Ga. (Delta Air Lines)
• Charlotte, N.C. (American Airlines)
• Chicago, Ill. (United Airlines)
• Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (American Airlines)
• New York City, N.Y. (American Airlines) – Restarting May 5, 2023
• New York City, N.Y. (Delta Air Lines)
• Philadelphia, Pa. (American Airlines)
• Washington, D.C./Reagan National (American Airlines)
• Washington, D.C./Dulles (United Airlines)

“The return of this American Airlines service shows that this community continues to consider and choose CAE to fly out of when making their air travel plans,” said Executive Director of CAE, Mike Gula. “We are thankful for the ongoing support and appreciate each and every person that sees the value in flying local.”

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) is now accepting submissions for the 2022 Art in the Airport program.

Throughout the year, this wildly popular program showcases the work of four artists’ from across the Midlands region and houses the work in the busiest part of the airport.

The Art in the Airport program not only enhances the experience of those passengers traveling through CAE, but it also creates an immediate sense of place to those visiting the region. Once a traveler lands, these pieces of art are the first creative and cultural touchpoints they have to the region.

“The Art in the Airport program has become something our valued passengers look forward to seeing and experiencing every time they travel through our airport. We’ve gotten calls about various artists work, as well as individuals thanking us for simply displaying local talent,” said Kim Crafton, Director of Marketing and Air Service Development. “This program not only shines a light on artists in this community but provides the perfect sense of place for our travelers. We are so grateful to welcome them to our city in this way.”

Would you like your artwork to be considered for this prestigious program? Below are details on how artists can submit work to be considered and the guidelines associated with the program.

Submission Requirements:
To apply for CAE’s Art in the Airport program, please email the following information to submissions@flycae.com by December 31, 2022, by 5 p.m.

• Name, address, phone, email, website (if applicable)
• Artist bio
• Artist Statement
• At least five images representing the type of artwork anticipated to be shown
• *Note: Artists must reside in one of the following Midlands counties: Aiken, Calhoun, Clarendon Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Sumter and Newberry.

Exhibit Requirements:
The exhibition location will be what is commonly referred to as the “Connector” space of the main terminal. This is the walkway just past the security checkpoint that leads to the departure/arrival gates. Selected artists must be able to exhibit a minimum of 12 pieces as there are 12 wall columns in the location, six on each side of the walkway. (Multiple images/clustered groupings of work can be arranged on one column if desired/space allows).

CAE will provide labels for each piece in the exhibit to include artists’ name, contact information and the title of the piece, as well as, dimensions, type of medium and selling price of the piece. CAE will also provide signage for the exhibit to include the artist’s bio and/or statement.

Exhibitions must be physically suited to the space, allowing for uninterrupted traffic flow. If selected, artists agree to suitably frame, wire and install their artwork at their own expense. Artists must be willing to sign CAE’s Artwork Loan and Hold Harmless Agreement. (CAE staff will not be able to assist with any installation).

Selected artists are welcome to preview the exhibit location by contacting Kim Jamieson Crafton, Director of Marketing and Air Service Development, at K.Crafton@flycae.com as a staff escort is required to access the location without a boarding pass.

Selection Process:
Submissions will be reviewed by CAE’s selection committee, comprised of a mix of local art professionals as well as CAE staff members. Artists selected for the rotating art exhibit will be notified January 6th, 2023, and a public announcement will be made on January 10th.

Timeline of 2023 Exhibits:
Each selected artist will be given a three-month time to display their exhibit at the airport. The 2023 exhibit timeline will be:
March – May 2023
June – August 2023
September – November 2023
December – February 2023

Insurance:
Art displayed at CAE is insured by the Columbia Metropolitan Airport while on site; however, the transportation to and from the airport is not covered. Prior to installation, the artist will provide CAE with a description of the exhibit pieces to include the title and value of each piece.

CAE Commission:
CAE does not charge artists to exhibit their work but will require a 5% commission on each piece sold. This commission will be reinvested into the CAE Art in the Airport program – enhancing display opportunities and required signage. All art transactions must be conducted between CAE, the artist and the purchaser.

With Thanksgiving being one of the busiest seasons for holiday travel, now exactly one week away and Christmas the following month, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) wants to ensure our valued passengers have a positive travel experience from start to finish – getting where they’re going… with ease.

“In October of this year, CAE saw roughly 94,150 passengers through the airport,” said Director of Marketing & Air Service Development, Kim Crafton. “In November of 2021, we saw roughly 87,000 passengers through the airport – nearly 7,000 more passengers a month prior this year over last year. Historically, November and December have been high traffic months and we are anticipating the same thing this year.”
To help prepare those flying out this holiday season, the team at CAE wanted to ensure passengers have everything they need lined up and ready to go before arriving at the airport.

• Pre-book Parking: By pre-booking parking, most passengers will see a savings on the daily rate on extended stays. To pre-book, simply visit www.flycae.com/airport/parking.

• Check Flight Status: By downloading an airline’s apps, passengers are able to get regular and real-time notifications regarding their flight status. Passengers are also encouraged to check CAE’s website for flight status as another resource. That information can be found by visiting, www.flycae.com/flight-information.

• Arrive Early: Arriving two hours early for your flight will ensure that you’re waiting at the gate, and not in the TSA security line. *Please note: Most airlines close the checked bag process roughly 45 minutes before boarding begins.

• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program: Are you traveling with a hidden disability and need extra assistance? The Hidden Disability Sunflower Program is now in place at CAE. If you or someone your group needs extra time, support, or care, please go to the Information Desk and get a sunflower lanyard to wear throughout your time in the airport. (The lanyards do not need to be returned and are free of charge).

• Get TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry: This five-year membership is acquired through an application process and allows you to keep shoes on, laptops in your bag, belts and jackets on and ensures an expedited security screening process. Traveling internationally regularly? Global Entry includes Pre-Check and can be obtained through a similar application process. Right now, TSA Pre-check has been discounted. Learn more at, www.tsa.gov.

• Double Check Your Bags: Before arriving to the airport, fully examine all carry-on bags to ensure no prohibited items are inside. These items – including firearms, restricted TSA objects or materials, etc. – will certainly hold up passengers in the security line and may keep an individual from flying. *Firearms are NOT allowed in carry-on baggage and must be properly stored in checked bags. Firearms found at the TSA security check point will be confiscated and fines may be issued.

• Flying with Gifts? Wait to Wrap! To make the check in process go as quickly as possible, CAE suggests you wait to wrap your gifts. Any wrapped gift in a carry-on might need to be opened if an alarm is triggered. Who wants to wrap gifts twice?

• Follow CAE on Social Media: CAE regularly shares important and useful travel notifications on social media. Following CAE’s channels keeps travelers in the loop with the latest airport and airline news and updates. Passengers can find CAE on:
  o Instagram (@FlyCAE)
  o Facebook (Columbia Metropolitan Airport CAE)
  o Twitter (@iFlyCAE)
  o LinkedIn (Columbia Metropolitan Airport)

• Pack Your Patience: With the start of summer travel comes more passengers in the airport, long lines, delays, missed connections and some cancellations due to staffing shortages or inclement weather. CAE encourages everyone to pack some patience and know that many people are working behind the scenes to ensure as few disruptions as possible.

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) is proud to announce that beginning Monday, October 24^th the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program will be launching at CAE – a new in-terminal initiative for passengers with hidden disabilities. The program offers a discreet way for those with a hidden disability to self-identify – alerting staff that they, or someone in their party, might need a little more time or extra help. 

“Upon learning about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, we immediately wanted to be involved,” said Mike Gula, Executive Director of CAE. “We do everything we can to ensure our passengers have a good experience while traveling through our airport. By adding this initiative for those who have a hidden disability is just another way we’re putting our passengers’ needs first.” 

Individuals who would like to utilize the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program at CAE (for themselves or someone in their traveling party) would simply go to the information desk in the main lobby and ask one of the volunteers for a lanyard or bracelet. The items are free and do not need to be returned.

Hidden disabilities could be physical, mental, or neurological conditions that could include, but are not limited to, cognitive dysfunction, mental disorders, speech/visual/hearing impairments, anxiety, PTSD or chronic conditions.

“Columbia Metropolitan Airport has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program to enhance the customer experience for their passengers.” said Paul White, CEO of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. “I am delighted that being part of the global Sunflower network means their passengers can be confident that they will receive the support they need as they travel through the airport.”

Over the last few months, the CAE staff, public safety and security, concessionaires, tenants, and airline partners have all participated in the necessary training that accompanies the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program. The training videos, provided by the company, include best practices for those who engage with a person wearing a sunflower lanyard or bracelet and how to assist them.

“Leading the charge and being the first airport in South Carolina to incorporate this initiative is a point of pride for us,” said Gula. “For us, it’s all about providing an excellent passenger experience every time.”