COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - United Airlines plans to add daily flights from Columbia Regional Airport in Mid-Missouri to both Denver and Chicago beginning this summer.
Columbia officials said at a news conference Monday that starting Aug. 1, one flight daily to Denver International Airport and two daily to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport will fly from Columbia.
Andrew Bell, United's sales manager for Missouri, says the airline will use 50-seat CRJ200 regional jets. He says starting flights in August will allow University of Missouri students to fly directly to Columbia for the fall semester.
American Airlines is currently the only airline serving the airport.
United is also adding non-stop service between Springfield-Branson National Airport in southwest Missouri and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport starting this spring.
United said Monday that the service begins June 8. Houston will become the Missouri airport's 13th non-stop destination. All told, the Springfield-Branson airport will average 28 daily departures on four airlines: Allegiant, American, Delta and United.
Airport board of directors chairman Tom Babik calls the Houston service "wonderful news for the region and the community."