Columbia’s city council is set to vote Monday evening on a proposed $1.8-million terminal passenger boarding bridge project at Columbia Regional Airport (COU).
City manager De’Carlon Seewood recommends approval, due to the accelerated increase in flights at COU. The city would be responsible for the $60,000 design cost plus a ten percent local match for construction costs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will reimburse the city for 90 percent of construction costs.
Columbia’s city council learned in March that Columbia Regional Airport is the nation’s fastest-growing airport, according to Mead and Hunt. COU welcomed more than 242,000 passengers in 2025, a record and a 17 percent increase over 2024 numbers. COU manager Michael Parks credits the community’s support for fueling this growth.