Photos by L.G. Patterson 

Five years after the Columbia City Council first gave support for the project, Columbia Regional Airport’s new and improved terminal is ready for use. 

The new 52,000-square-foot facility is three times the size of the previous terminal, with several upgrades to improve air travel for people in mid-Missouri. It features four gates with three passenger boarding bridges, more comfortableseating, increased charging outlets, workstations for business travelers, a mother’s room, a sensory room and an interior service animal relief area. Plus, a restaurant and bar are in the plans for the near future.

“We now have a terminal that better reflects our region and is more welcoming to those visiting our area, creating that critical first impression,” says Amy Schneider, director of the Columbia Convention& Visitors Bureau.

Work began on the terminal in May 2020 and was completed in October 2022. The first flights out of the new terminal began on Oct. 26, 2022.

Currently, passengers can only fly daily to and from Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago; however, according to city officials, the plan is to add a twice-daily service to and from Charlotte, North Carolina, once the demand for flights increases.

“COU will play a key role in securing our region’s economic future,” says Stacey Button, director of economic development for the city of Columbia. “The new airport terminal will help existing businesses grow as well as drive the development of new economic opportunities in Columbia and throughout mid-Missouri.”