CAE celebrates opening of new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Staff with the Columbia Metropolitan Airport are celebrating the completion of their new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility, not far from the airport’s main terminal.

CAE officials say the new site will bring efficiency and safety when it comes to processing inbound international travelers, and will help open up international commerce and travel going forward — becoming a win/win for both passengers and employees.

“It gives us a central location to bring everybody to. Previously, our customs people have had to go meet aircraft at different locations at the airport where they don’t always have the facilities and support that they need. They don’t have restrooms for the public. They’re having to greet people in the rain or the 100 degree heat some days, and so just begin able to bring everybody here to one location where they’ve got nice facilities to welcome them into the state is a nice addition to the airport,” says Frank Murray, CAE’s Vice President of Planning and Engineering.

In turn, the facility will also allow CBP officers to laser focus on safety. “With this new facility we have the ability to process our passengers safely and the cargo efficiently in a secure space in a secure building,” says Area Port Director for Charleston, Veronica Rubio.

As Columbia and the Midlands continue to grow as a hotspot for businesses and tourism — bringing visitors for events like the Masters and the World Cup — the new space is a much needed upgrade.

“CAE supports 16,000 jobs, generates $85 million a year in state and local taxes, and has an annual economic output of $3.3 billion. CAE truly means business,” says CAE President Chris White.

The new facility is expected to become fully operational in the next two weeks.