CAE—Columbia Metropolitan Airport

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport lies six miles west of Columbia's Central Business District. Passenger service is provided by seven scheduled airlines, with commercial cargo service being handled by three scheduled airlines and numerous air freight operators. Two fixed-base operators also serve the Metro facility with various charter flights. The airport maintains a newly dedicated air cargo terminal, the Columbia Airport Enterprise Park (CAE Park) and Foreign Trade Zone #127. A $45 million terminal expansion and renovation is under construction. There are also four corporate/private airport facilities in the Columbia region.

In August 1996, United Parcel Service opened an $80 million Southeastern Regional Hub at the airport. The hub offers next day, second day and third day air service. The buildings encompass 352,000 square feet and the 44-acre ramp is large enough to hold 22 DC-8 aircraft. The hub can process 42,000 packages an hour. Other major air cargo companies serving the airport include Airborne Express, Emery Worldwide and Federal Express.

Foreign-Trade Zone 127 is a 108-acre tract within the Columbia Metropolitan Airport complex. The US Customs Services offices, Port of Columbia, are also located in this facility along with several Custom House brokers. Both foreign and domestics goods can be brought into an FTZ without formal customs entry for assembly, manufacture, display, storage, destruction or other processing. Duty payments are not required until the merchandise leaves the zone for domestic consumption. If exported, no duty payments are made.