Columbia Metropolitan Airport Statistics

Columbia Metropolitan Airport sees over 70,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings annually.

• In 2025, there were 71,123 total aircraft movements, the highest operations count in the airport’s modern history.
• Before the pandemic, 2019 recorded 57,284 movements and 2018 had 52,862.
• Operations dropped to 47,540 in 2020, the lowest during the pandemic as passenger traffic declined.
• Recovery strengthened with 60,376 operations in 2021, 62,946 in 2022, a slight dip to 60,261 in 2023, then again rising to 65,702 in 2024.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport shows clear seasonal patterns, with spring and early fall seeing the highest travel volumes.

• October was the busiest month with 129,176 passengers, reflecting strong early fall travel.
• July followed closely with 128,121 passengers, marking the peak of summer travel demand.
• Numbers also remained high in August (126,672) and May (126,241), reflecting consistently strong travel demand during the late-summer and pre-holiday periods.
• January and February were the lowest months with 94,003 and 93,675 passengers respectively, consistent with post-holiday travel slowdowns.

• Atlanta, GA (ATL) served 229,480 passengers in 2025, making it the busiest route via Delta’s hub with 5-6 daily flights.
• Charlotte, NC (CLT) handled 127,600 passengers as the second-busiest route via American Airlines.
• Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) carried 62,520 passengers, offering extensive West Coast connectivity through American’s hub.
• New York/ La Guardia, NY (LGA) served 56,640 passengers, supporting strong business and connecting traffic demand.
• Washington, DC (DCA/IAD) handled 53,320 passengers combined, with service to both Reagan National and Dulles airports.

• In 2025, 3.26% of domestic flights were cancelled, an increase from 1.55% in 2024.
• The highest rate occurred in 2020, with about 4.96% of flights cancelled due to reduced schedules and restrictions.
• The rate dropped to 0.98% in 2021, signaling a return to regular operations.
• It rose slightly to 2.03% in 2022 due to industry-wide staffing and operational challenges.
• In 2023, 1.49% of flights were cancelled, in line with improving national airline performance.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport generates over $20 million in annual operating revenue and is financially self-sustaining without local tax funding.

• Operating revenue reached $26.2 million in 2024, an all-time high reflecting strong post-pandemic recovery.
• Pre-pandemic revenue peaked at $19.1 million in 2019 and fell to $17.3 million in 2020.
• The figure dropped further to $13 million in 2021.
• By 2022, operating revenue recovered to $19.0 million, nearing the pre-pandemic levels.
• The revenue further increased to $22.2 million in 2023, crossing the $20 million mark for the first time.

Note: 2025 annual operating revenue data is not yet available

• September 19, 2008: A Learjet 60 crashed on takeoff from Runway 11, killing four including both pilots. Musicians Travis Barker and DJ AM survived with serious injuries. The NTSB found under-inflated tires caused the crash, prompting updated FAA tire pressure guidance for charter jets.
• December 20, 2020: A Western Global Airlines Boeing 747-400F cargo plane struck a structure while taxiing, shearing off a wingtip. No injuries occurred. The runway was temporarily closed for debris removal.
• August 12, 2025: A homebuilt Velocity XL aircraft suffered a nose gear collapse on landing. The pilot, the sole occupant, had only minor injuries. Runway 11 was briefly closed for removal.