REDI: Flights still planned between Columbia Regional and Charlotte

The head of Columbia’s Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) says American Airlines still plans to provide service from Columbia Regional Airport (COU) to Charlotte in the future.

American is currently providing direct service from COU to Dallas-Fort Worth and to Chicago. REDI’s Stacey Button tells 939 the Eagle that American made a pre-pandemic commitment to provide twice-daily service to Charlotte.

“So we received a federal grant to assist with the startup for that service, and that is still absolutely planned for and intended. It is really incumbent upon the airline to see stabilization in travel at this point,” Button tells 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table.”

Meantime, COU’s $23-million new terminal is set to be completed in September, and will open soon thereafter. It will be 52,000 square feet, compared to the current 16,000 square feet facility. Ms. Button is excited about a new restaurant and bar that will be in the new terminal.

“I don’t have any announcements right now but we are working right now with a potential concessionaire. So I’ll be excited to announce that when that comes to be,” says Button.

Columbia Regional’s current terminal was built in 1968. The main funding source for the new terminal is a hotel tax approved by Columbia voters in 2016.

Click here to listen to the full interview between host Fred Parry and REDI’s Stacey Button.