Columbia Metropolitan Airport has welcomed record-setting numbers of passengers aboard its flights in 2024 so far.  

The airport saw 646,014 passengers from January to June of this year, with 123,008 passengers in May alone. These numbers exceed the 2019 record of 122,099 passengers at CAE in May 2019 before COVID-19, according to a press release from the airport. 

“We’re seeing a significant surge in passenger traffic through the airport this year and we couldn’t be happier to have such a lively and active terminal every day,” President & CEO Mike Gula said in the release. “Historically, we see a dip in passenger traffic at the start of the year with an uptick starting in late Q1. This year, it has been a consistent increase of travelers from January 1 to today.” 

In 2019, the airport saw around 1.3 million passengers which was the highest traffic number CAE had in 10 years, and now in 2024, the airport is on track to equal or slightly exceed that 2019 number. 

“Additional air service and route options also played a factor in the increased passenger traffic. In June, American Airlines restarted its nonstop seasonal service to Miami (with Saturday only service through August),” according to the release. “Re-establishing and surpassing pre-pandemic passenger traffic has been the main goal and priority for CAE.  

“With a focus on improving efficiencies and updating amenities from the garage to the airlines’ gates, as well as ensuring passengers’ experience in the terminal is smooth and easy, the end goal - and hope - of the CAE team is to encourage continued use and loyalty of our local airport by just that… locals.” 

Here’s a comparison:  

• May of 2019 saw 122,099 passengers 

• May of 2023 saw 104,267 passengers 

• May of 2024 saw 123,008 passengers