Mesaba Airlines offers flights to Memphis International Airport
The airport now sends passengers to Memphis.
Aug. 26, 2008
A Northwest Airlines employee marshals a plane before departure Sunday at the Columbia Regional Airport. Mesaba Airlines, a regional subsidiary of Northwest, has begun flying daily direct flights to and from Memphis out of Columbia.
After a 49-day gap in passenger air service, Columbia Regional Airport reopened its runways to airlines last week.
Minnesota-based Mesaba Airlines, a subsidiary of Northwest Airlines, now provides a link between the mid-Missouri airport and Memphis' international hub, with flights leaving Columbia three times daily.
"We're trying to reach out to the student population," said Jill Stedem, spokeswoman for the Columbia Public Works Department. "We've gotten a lot of great feedback."
Stedem cited the importance of non-stop flights to Memphis and the airport's new ability to reach more than 90 destinations.
With gasoline costs rising to $3.59 on Sunday, air travel can be a cost-effective means of transportation. Many MU students, though sometimes uninformed about Mesaba's arrival in Columbia, were often eager to explore its offerings.
"Mesaba is a big deal in Minnesota," senior Alex Aberman said. "If I could avoid driving two hours to St. Louis or Kansas City, I'd definitely fly instead of drive."
It can also make more sense to fly, depending on where the person is going.
"I'd rather fly because it's a shorter trip," said senior Samantha Citron of Chicago, Ill. "Eliminating the two hour drive to the airport would be huge."
Other popular travel options include MO-X airport shuttle, which is a bus to the airports in Kansas City and St. Louis, and Megabus, the low-cost bus service that travels from Columbia to Chicago and many other destinations.
"Megabus is great because fares start at a dollar," senior Stephanie Coon said. "They do go up quickly, and the most I've paid is $29."
Despite the competitive pricing, Coon said she prefers the flexibility of driving. Sophomore Brad Dennis echoed her sentiment.
"Being tied down to a bus's schedule is limiting," he said.
Some students are disappointed to hear that the Mesaba-Columbia Airport partnership means little to them.
"On breaks, sometimes I go directly to my family's house in Texas," junior Tim Bommarito said. "I'd still have to fly through Memphis just to turn around and go the opposite way, for more money."
Jerry Price, owner of Columbia-based Summit Travel, expects to see an increase in travel to and from Columbia Regional airport.
"We've had surprisingly good interest so far," Price said. "In terms of availability and cost-effectiveness, this is just one piece of the pie. And every additional piece helps."
Despite the initial increase in regional traffic - Stedem said some flights had already sold out - Jeff Lea, public information manager at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport remains confident that business won't drop.
"Any drop in traffic is not from Columbia serving students," Lea said, adding that Lambert offers nonstop service to more than 70 cities on 13 airlines. "Students fly everywhere," he said. "Internationally, even."
Lambert and Kansas City International Airport both offer more nonstop flights than Columbia's on 13 airlines. Columbia Regional Airport's one airline may not be enough to draw regional travelers.
Bommarito said that based on past experience, he believes his peers will opt for the airport with the most competitive prices.
"We can handle long flights," Bommarito said. "We sit in seats for a career these days. A layover in Memphis isn't a big deal. But paying extra for what's already inconvenient? Everyone would say no."
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