Three airlines have abruptly halted flights at the Columbia Regional Airport, citing safety concerns over the runway.
The airport’s primary runway closed last week for planned maintenance and instead runway 13-31 is being used for all flight operations.
It seems the airlines – SkyWest, which operates flights at Columbia on behalf of United Airlines, and American Airlines regional affiliates Mesa Airlines and Envoy Air – are unhappy with the runway’s condition.
Runway 13-31 has just been renovated and is certified by the FAA.
It is ‘safe and compliant’ airport manager Mike Parks said.
Parks said airport officials and representatives from the airlines met prior to the main runway closure and the airlines didn’t raise any concerns over runway 13-31.
Now the airport says carriers have expressed misgivings about the ‘crown’ which is used to drain water from the runway.
The airlines say it causes the feeling of hitting a bump during takeoff and landing.
The main runway is expected to be closed for nearly three months.
Another meeting is tentatively planned with the airlines for Monday to discuss and hopefully resolve the issue, the airport said.
It also noted that regional carrier Air Wisconsin is still operating flights to the airport as scheduled.
