News & Media

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.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) will now offer TSA Pre✓® passengers the same security processing guidelines, no matter the lane they enter from the checkpoint. The new “Blended Lane” system was recently introduced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA hereafter) and is designed to provide pre-approved passengers with the same TSA Pre✓® experience 100% of the time.

“Columbia Metropolitan Airport is pleased to be the first airport in the state to adopt this innovative security screening system by TSA,” said Mike Gula, Executive Director at CAE. “This year, we are on track to see major growth in our annual passenger traffic, and having an updated system like this in place will provide a more efficient process in getting passengers through the checkpoint and on their way with ease.” 

If the standard TSA Pre✓® lane is closed, TSA Pre✓® passengers will still receive the same TSA Pre✓®

experience through another lane – designated as a Blended Lane. Here is how it will work:

• As TSA Pre✓® passengers are identified at TSA’s check-in desk, they will be given a card identifying them as such,
  
• With the card, they will not have to remove: 
  • Laptops from bags, 
  • Shoes, 
  • Belts, 
  • Jackets, or 
  • 3-1-1 compliant liquids and gels from carry-on bags 

For more information on how to become TSA Pre✓® or to renew your current status, please visit TSA’s website at www.tsa.gov.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE, here after) is excited to announce that passenger traffic continues to reflect steady growth in the first quarter of 2019. 

In March, traffic stats increased 20% over February with 112,048 passengers traveling through CAE – a 16% increase year to date. 

“With over 301,000 passengers flying through CAE since January of this year, we’re currently on track to have another record setting year,” said CAE Executive Director, Mike Gula. “Our team works hard every day to serve our passengers, providing them with a pleasant and first class experience.”

As a result of this increased traffic through the airport, CAE gained two additional New York City flights – nonstop to LaGuardia (LGA). They are:

• American Airlines: Departs CAE at 6:55 a.m. and arrives at LGA at 9:00 a.m.
  
• Delta Air Lines:  Departs CAE at 1:05 p.m. and arrives at LGA at 3:06 p.m.
• Currently Delta Air Lines has a morning flight at 6:00 a.m. that will continue in addition to the new service.  

With three nonstop flights to New York City (LGA), as well as to the eight other hub destinations with nonstop service, CAE encourages travelers to be prepared. 

“The busy summer travel season is upon us and we encourage our travelers to allow extra time when arriving at the airport,” continued Gula. “Planning for an hour to an hour and half out from what you might have done in the past is our recommendation. We want to encourage travelers to wait at the gate!” 

Some travel tips to consider when flying out of CAE are:

• Follow the airlines’ recommendation to arrive at the airport at least 1 ½ hours prior to departure for domestic travel and 2 hours prior to departure for international travel. With the addition of new air service at CAE, there are several peak travel times throughout the day at which lines can be longer at ticket counters and at the security checkpoint. 

• Check in for your flight 24 hours prior to departure and access your boarding pass via desktop computer or your mobile device.

• Carry-on bags are limited to one bag per passenger plus one personal item such as a laptop, purse, backpack or briefcase. Additional bags can be checked in at your airline’s ticket counter. Please check with your airline for specific checked baggage restrictions and fees.

• For carry-on bags, liquids and gels must be in 3.4 ounce containers or less and must be placed in a quart-sized, clear plastic zip-top bag. Only one zip-top bag per passenger. Go to www.tsa.gov for questions on items that can and cannot go through the security checkpoint.

• A reminder to pack a little extra patience and to allow that extra time as security checkpoint lines may be longer at peak travel times. CAE’s and TSA’s priority is the safety of our travelers.