Press Releases

Press Release

From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development

Submitted On: 06 September 2022

COLUMBUS, GA February 2022- Thursday, September 8th 2022 at 1:30 p.m. the Columbus Airport’s Public Safety Department will perform a live gunshot detection emergency exercise at the Columbus Airport with AmberBox Gunshot Detection system.
The exercise will consist of a live gunshot using blank ammunition in the airport terminal and administrative offices where the systems will report as Airport Police respond to the alert.
“Passenger safety is our priority; we rely on our Public Safety department and Amber Box partners in these types of exercises keeping us safe and up to date on any threats that could happen at any time.” Says Amber Clark, Airport Director of the Columbus Airport. “These exercises are crucial to ensure that all departments understand what to do and how to respond in an emergency.”
AmberBox Gunshot Detection is the market leader in active threat detection. Being the only third generation technology solution, AmberBox provides instant gunshot detection and notification to police and Airport Public Safety. The real-time response platform delivers event data, with the ability to view precise gunshot location and timing, perpetrator movement, weapon classification, and the option to respond immediately with pre-programmed security feature integrations. AmberBox Gunshot Detection enables first responders to arrive on scene faster, equipped with the vital information needed to contain threats and mitigate casualties.
The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 07 June 2022

COLUMBUS, GA., June 7, 2022—The Columbus Airport (CSG) awarded Departure Media, Inc. (DMI), a 100% woman owned business and the largest prime ACDBE advertising concessionaire in the country their advertising program. This is the second airport that DMI has added in the last two months.

“We’re thrilled to be selected as Columbus Airport’s first advertising concessionaire,” said Leslie Bensen, Departure Media founder and CEO. “CSG’s recent renovations and addition of service provided by American Airlines are positive changes and timely for the launch of an exciting, new terminal advertising program. DMI will offer static and digital advertising opportunities to companies interested in reaching this highly sophisticated and sought-after target audience.”

Columbus Airport is owned and operated by the Columbus Airport Commission and is the fourth largest airport in the state of Georgia. Last fall, the airport unveiled a completely renovated, twostory terminal—the result of a multi-year, $20.8 million improvement program that upgraded the facilities inside and out. The renovations helped Columbus Airport recruit a second commercial carrier, American Airlines, which began offering nonstop service to and from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in October. The airport expects the additional service to increase traffic from 100,000 annual passengers to 150,000–175,000 by 2023.

Airport Director Amber Clark said of the new partnership, “Departure Media’s track record of developing and expanding airport advertising programs throughout the country gave us the confidence to embark on this new program. Our vision as the hometown airport is to provide large airport services and amenities with a personal touch, and this is one more way we are achieving that.”

Departure Media develops, creates and implements targeted advertising campaigns that generate multiple messaging opportunities for advertisers in airports. Airports benefit from enhanced terminal aesthetics, an improved passenger experience and revenue generation.

Advertisers benefit from an advertising channel that is uniquely positioned to reach local, national, and international audiences who have adequate time to absorb their message.

Departure Media

Departure Media, Inc., was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Charleston, S.C. The company is 100 percent woman-owned and serves airports in: Clearwater, Fla.; Gainesville, Fla.; Albany, Ga.; Augusta, Ga.; Columbus, Ga., Cincinnati/Northern Ky.; Dayton, Ohio; Beaufort, S.C.; Hilton Head, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; and Richmond, Va. For more information, visit www.Departure-Media.com.

Media Contact
Sonya Overton
Columbus Airport
706-330-8246 Office

To All Media Outlets – Distribute Freely – Immediate Release. I have attached a press of inductees for the 29th Annual Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet. Event to be held Saturday April 30th, 2022, banquet will be hosted at the hangar of Lance Toland in Griffin Georgia. Onsite film crews can be accommodated at this event. This is quite a large and prestigious gathering in
the Statewide aviation community. Full biographies are included within the attached release.

Regards,

Jimmy Norton
Board Member / Media Relations
Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
www.gaaviationhalloffame.com
770-609-8997 Office
404-625-2114 Cell

Heather Turner
Museum of Aviation
(478) 327-5276
hturner@museumofaviation.org

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 10 February 2022

COLUMBUS, GA February 2022- Friday, February 11 at 6 p.m. the Columbus Airport along with responding fire departments: Columbus Fire EMS, Fort Benning, and CussetaChattahoochee County Fire Department and other agencies will perform a downed aircraft emergency exercise.

The participating emergency responses teams plan to mock an emergency aircraft crash that catches on fire with possible mock casualties in a wooded area in the Columbus, Georgia region any additional details due to the responding firefighters are not yet known.

The exercise will consist of an initial radio call from a helicopter advising of possible trouble. It will later escalate to verified trouble after the last transmission, ATC will report a loss of radar contact somewhere around Spencer High School located at 1000 Fort Benning Rd, Columbus, GA 31903.

“Exercises like these are common in our industry, as aircraft safety is our priority, we rely on our community partners to assist in these types of scenarios keeping us all on our toes.” Says Chief Andre Parker of the Columbus Airport. “These exercises are crucial to ensure that all departments understand what to do and how to respond in an emergency.”

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 10 November 2021

COLUMBUS, GA November 2021– Friday, November 12th and Saturday, November 13th the Chattahoochee River Conservancy with help from the Columbus Airport will work to clean up litter in Lindsey Creek from 8a-12 noon both days. Volunteers are welcome.
Meet up and parking will be at 5815 Nancy Avenue, Columbus GA 31909.
The conservatory is a nonprofit organization with the mission to protect the Chattahoochee River through the use of science, education, and advocacy.
The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 19 October 2021

COLUMBUS, GA October 2021– Thursday, October 21, 2021 the airport will celebrate the completion of its new terminal modernization and infrastructure improvements that began in March 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic keeping essential workers employed.

The hometown airport of the Tri-city area has grown from a small one room terminal originally located off Victory Drive in South Columbus to a two-story terminal that sits in the center of Columbus. The new terminal represents the four regions of service with designs of the Chattahoochee River incorporating the colors of blue for the river that connect Columbus, GA & Phenix City, AL, Green for forestry of Harris County, GA and Sand for the uniforms & equipment of Fort Benning throughout the terminal.

Improvements at the airport became possible due to the $9.7 million dollar grant received from the FAA, $650,000 grant awarded from the State of Georgia, $3.5 million dollar grant by the Department of Transportation and a local share of 6 million dollars from the Airport Commission, a total of $19.8 million.

All three grants were used to fund the terminal building modifications, the first modernization since the current terminal’s completion in 1991.

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 12 August 2021

COLUMBUS, GA August 2021- The Columbus Airport will celebrate the return of American Airlines to the Columbus Georgia market with nonstop service from Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) to Columbus Airport (CSG) and a second route with nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Columbus Airport (CSG) with an Inaugural Celebration on Tuesday, August 17th at 1p.

Beginning Tuesday, August 17, 2021, daily service will be offered on the new Columbus–Charlotte and Columbus-Dallas/Fort Worth routes. The airport will celebrate with a water cannon salute, community speakers from the Mayor’s office, Chamber of commerce and Visit Columbus as well as giveaways to passengers of the first flight and inaugural attendees.

“These new, nonstop services connecting our region to east and west coast destinations are a huge asset for business travelers, government officials and our community.” Said Don Cook, Airport Commission Board Chairman. American Airlines is continuing to offer more ways to reconnect with friends and family as it continues to rebuild its network to match demand.

“Columbus has been on our radar for a while and we’re eager to offer additional air travel options to our largest hubs in Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Vice President of Network Planning. “With these new flights, local residents can access American’s global network, with just one stop to the world.”

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 26 May 2021

COLUMBUS, GA May 2021- The Columbus Airport was awarded the 2020 Air Carrier Airport Safety Award within the FAA Southern Region which consists of eight states to include Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida with a total of seventy commercial service airports.

The FAA Southern Region Airports Division Safety Awards program allows the division to recognize air carrier airports that have taken actions, instituted programs, or otherwise operated in such a manner deserving of special recognition for improving airport safety. Selection criteria for the Air Carrier Airport Safety Award are based on the development or implementation of a specific program or activity, or other special and unique accomplishments, involving the operation of an air carrier airport that resulted in enhanced safety.

During 2020 the airport implemented several initiatives to improve the safety of the airfield for all users to include consistent phraseology, identifying movement boundaries, established location quadrants to help set clear expectations and formulate a consistent understanding of the airfield and its boundaries. Practical driver training was augmented and additional directional and location signs on the reverse side of the current airfield signs were installed providing greater taxiway/intersection awareness.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 29 April 2021

COLUMBUS, GA April 2021– The Columbus Airport is pleased to announce the return of American Airlines to the Columbus Georgia market with nonstop service from Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) to Columbus Airport (CSG) and a second route with nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Columbus Airport (CSG).

Beginning August 17, 2021 daily service will be offered on the new Columbus–Charlotte and Columbus-Dallas/Fort Worth routes.

“The Columbus Airport Commission continues to work with our airline partners to meet the air transportation and economic development needs of the community, its customers and partners said, Don Cook, Board Chair. “These new, nonstop services connecting our region to east and west coast destinations will be a huge asset for business travelers, government officials and our community.”

American Airlines is continuing to offer more ways to reconnect with friends and family as it continues to rebuild its network to match demand.

“Columbus has been on our radar for a while and we’re eager to offer additional air travel options to our largest hubs in Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Vice President of Network Planning. “With these new flights, local residents can access American’s global network, with just one stop to the world.”

Tickets for the new services between Columbus (CSG) and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) and Columbus (CSG) to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) will be available Monday, May 3rd at aa.com.