Columbia Metropolitan Airport is approximately five miles from the city of Columbia, South Carolina. CAE was opened in 1940 as Lexington County Airport when the United States Army Air Corps needed the space to build up troops after World War II started in Europe. In 1941 the civil portion of the airport was transformed into more space for the military to utilize. By 1945 military use of the airport was begging to slow down.
UPS uses Columbia Metropolitan Airport as a regional hub. This building accounts for 352,000 square feet of the facility and processes an average of 42,000 packages an hour.
Five airlines provide service for CAE Airport’s passengers who reach 1.2 million passengers annually. Ground transportation includes several on-site car rental counters, limousine services, taxis, hotel shuttles and the Central Midlands bus. With parking renovations CAE offers over 1,800 spots in the parking garage and over 1,600 uncovered spots. If staying near the airport there are four options within two miles of the airport including the Days Inn & Suites Columbia Airport, the Country Inn & Suites and the Sleep Inn Columbia Airport.