At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, United Airlines suspended and then discontinued flights to and from Columbia Regional Airport. On September 25, United will resume flights from COU, with two daily routes to Chicago O’Hare and one to Denver.
Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe made that announcement Thursday during a news conference at the airport, calling Chicago and Denver “key national and international gateways.”
Those routes give Columbia travelers direct access to more than 200 domestic and nearly sixty international destinations through United’s hubs in Denver and Chicago — which will include first class seats on all flights, Buffaloe said. American Airlines currently serves the airport with daily flights to Chicago and Dallas.
Buffaloe said United’s new Denver flight is made possible in part by the community’s successful application for the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant — “a highly competitive federal grant that recognizes both demand and opportunity.”
Below, Columbia and Boone County officials and local economic development officials applaud the news of United’s return.
Airport Manager Mike Parks said the most recent passenger demand analysis showed that Denver is Columbia’s largest unserved business market.
University of Missouri System President Dr. Mun Choi also spoke at Thursday’s news conference, emphasizing the airport’s importance in providing travel for students as well as faculty. Choi also encouraged Parks to continue to pursue even more destinations and routes for Columbia Regional.
“We will continue to work with American and United about expanding flights in the future,” Parks said. “We’re always looking for additional destinations and additional connections as we support the airlines that we have.”
Parks, who has been COU’s manager since 2016, said he has continued conversations with United officials since the pandemic “and expressed how important they are to us.”
It’s that kind of relationship-building and nurturing that led to Thursday’s announcement, said Paul Eisenstein, president of Columbia’s Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI).
“In economic development, it’s about relationships,” he said. “It’s about trust. And I think we’ve done a really good job with that.”
Ryan Rapp, REDI board chair and executive vice president for finance and operations at MU, also applauded Parks.
“I think a lot of the credit goes to Mark Parks,” Rapp said. “He’s been relentless in pursuing this. Without Mike, I don’t think we’d be here.”
Rapp added that for getting students to and from Columbia and for faculty recruitment, as well as for fans who want to see athletic events, “the airport is critical” for those objectives.
“As we try to recruit folks to this region, what they want to know is that when they have to travel, ‘What are my options? What is close?’” he explained
Rapp echoed Choi’s encouragement to continue adding flights.
“We’d like to see, perhaps, an East Coast route that gets you to Charlotte or Atlanta or someplace like that,” Rapp said. “Those are the things from the university perspective and the business community that we’d like to see.”
According to a city of Columbia news release, the impact of Columbia Regional Airport extends well beyond Columbia, signaling broader economic growth and connectivity for the entire state.
“United Airlines’ return to Columbia is a strong vote of confidence in Missouri’s growing economy and the strength of our communities,” said Gov. Mike Kehoe in the news release. “When private industry chooses to invest and expand in our state, it shows that Missouri is open for business and moving in the right direction. We welcome United back and look forward to the opportunities this connection brings for our citizens and businesses alike.”
United’s managing director of Domestic Network Planning, Mark Weithofer, said in the news release that United “is pleased to return to Central Missouri.”
Reservations for flights are now available for booking at United.com.
All flights will offer first class; the twice-daily Chicago flights will be flown on a CRJ-550 aircraft with ten United First seats and twenty Economy Plus seats with nose-to-tail in-seat power, Wi-Fi, and increased on-board bag storage.
Buffaloe also pointed out that some airport amenities are also being improved. The west parking lot and Airport Drive are being resurfaced, the facility to the south if being renovated for rental car companies, and the airport kitchen will be finished later this year, meaning there will be a hot food menu for both the secure and public side of the terminal.
“Today’s celebration isn’t just about flights — it’s about Columbia’s and mid-Missouri’s future,” Buffaloe said during her remarks on Thursday. “Today’s launch represents a win for our local economy, our business community, and our future growth. United’s return reflects a vote of confidence in Columbia and mid-Missouri in our ability to support high-quality, consistent air service.”
