COLUMBIA, S.C. — Changes are underway at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport as part of a comprehensive multi-year plan.
More travelers than ever are passing through the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, with over 1.2 million passengers in 2023, marking a 16 percent increase from the previous year, according to Vice President of Marketing Kim Crafton.
Recognizing the need to accommodate this growing demand, airport officials are developing a new 20-year master plan. Crafton said the last plan is more than a decade old.
"We really focused and needed to focus on a lot of internal components. Operationally that needed to be addressed within the airport," Crafton said.
This new plan aims to enhance various aspects of the airport experience, including food, beverage, and retail options, as well as improving taxiways and updating TSA checkpoints.
“We’re going to be widening the checkpoint and adding security lanes so that’s going to be a very highly visual project that the community and passengers are going to see,” said Crafton.
Crafton emphasized the importance of community input in shaping the airport's future. To facilitate this, the airport will conduct in-terminal surveys throughout the year, with participation opportunities also available on the airport's website.
Crafton said that the survey will be available through June 30th.
“We really want as many people from the community to take that survey,” said Crafton.
Travelers also shared their thoughts with News 19 on what they'd like to see at the airport over the next two decades.
"Maybe an expansion of the underground parking, the protected parking," said traveler Tim Lee.
"Raising Canes would be nice," added traveler Aniya Thomas.
Jonathan Lawson suggested, "Definitely a food court. Maybe a minigolf putt-putt area, you know something to get the people going, excited."