The airline will offer flights linking Columbia, Missouri with Chicago and Denver.
A United Express CRJ-700 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | GingChen)
United is returning to Columbia Regional Airport in central Missouri after a years-long absence.
Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe announced Thursday that the airline will operate two daily nonstop flights to and from Chicago O’Hare and one daily nonstop flight to and from Denver. The new routes will launch Sept. 25, she said.
“We are proud to work with United Airlines to expand routes for passengers,” said Columbia City Manager De’Carlon Seewood. “Bringing new destinations has always been a priority for COU, and this partnership will make business and leisure travel even more convenient for passengers.”
City officials said both flights will have first-class seating available. The Columbia-Chicago route will operate with a Bombardier CRJ-550.They did not specify the aircraft to be used on the Denver route.
Service to Denver is being made possible through a Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant provides funding for communities that have insufficient air carrier service or “unreasonably” high air fares, according to the DOT.
United’s return to Columbia means it will be competing against American, which currently provides service to Chicago.
United suspended flights between Columbia and Denver in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It suspended all operations at Columbia, including twice-daily flights to Chicago, in 2022.
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