COLUMBIA — The Columbia Regional Airport hopes a record numbers of passengers and two announcements of new flights this year are signals of a financial turnaround.

Over the past five years, COU has seen an operating loss.

In the fiscal year 2024, the airport ended the year with an operating loss of about $3.2 million. Deputy City Manager Matt Unrein said that number can be misleading because it reflects more than just daily operations.

“Some of the losses you’re seeing really are probably capital improvements,” Unrein said. “When you’re looking at the budget, what you’re seeing is we’re saving for capital expenses over a number of years. When those projects happen in that fiscal year, you’re going to see it all realized at once.”

He said the public often sees the total loss figure with

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