Podcast: Columbia Airport seeks larger role in air cargo segment

Columbia Metropolitan Airport wants to play a larger role in the air cargo industry and serve as a less congested alternative to airports including Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International and Charlotte Douglas International. The South Carolina Department of Commerce awarded Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) a $5 million grant in 2024 to acquire new ground service equipment and renovate its west cargo building to support additional warehousing and air cargo operations. Apart from FedEx and UPS, there really are no other cargo-handling capabilities at CAE, Ryan Kreulen, vice president of operations at the airport, says in this week’s episode of “Cargo Facts Connect.” Air cargo flights accounted for 14% of CAE’s total traffic in 2025, with most of the 40,000 tonnes of air freight moving through the airport being handled by FedEx and UPS. In addition to having customs on site at the airport, CAE provides an escape from the congestion found in larger markets and the experience of working with large freighter operators, Chief Executive Chris White says in the podcast. Tune into this week’s episode of “Cargo Facts Connect” to hear White and Kreulen discuss with Senior Associate Editor Robert Luke how they plan to attract more cargo operators to the capital of South Carolina. A transcript is available below. This transcript has been generated by software and some transcription errors may remain. Robert Luke Hello and welcome to another episode of Cargo Facts Connect, the podcast of cargo facts and the newsletter of record for of the aircraft, freighter and cargo industries for over 40 years. I’m Senior Associate Editor Robert Luke, and it’s Friday, January 23rd. Earlier this month, I paid a visit to Columbia Metropolitan Airport and its newly appointed Chief Executive, Chris White, to discuss his vision for the airport, and what motivated him to embrace this opportunity. Robert Luke Chris, Hello, Chris. Congratulations on becoming the new chief executive of Columbia metropolitan airport. Please take a few minutes to tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got here. Chris White Well, thank you. I'm happy to be here. Prior to coming to Columbia, I was the Chief Operating Officer at the Charlottesville Albemarle airport in Virginia, and I have got about 35 years in the business. So I've been in a number of other airports throughout my career, as large as Dallas Fort Worth all the way as small as Cheyenne Wyoming. So, so good broad experience over those years at airports of all different sizes, but I'm excited to be here at Columbia. Robert Luke Thank you for that, Chris, as you mentioned, you have more than 35 years of airport executive management experience. I noticed that nearly nine years of that experience were spent at Raleigh, Durham International, and just over 14 years at Jacksonville's Jacksonville, North Carolina, briefly share what you learned and how you can use those experiences to shape your vision here at Columbia Metro, Raleigh, Chris White Durham was a very, very busy, growing market with a lot of international services. In the last few years, you've seen the international service explode, but it's a very vibrant, business focused environment. There Research Triangle Park, multiple universities in there, attracting a lot of business and industry to that region. So I learned, learn how they how they attract the business there, how they accommodate it, and they expand their facilities to to to help these airlines grow, and also how they were able to maintain that international service with American Airlines to to London, and how they were able to expand that and to Paris and many other cities over the years also saw a good, strong cargo operation there. They had a UPS, FedEx, DHL, were all very active there. At one point, we had airborne Express, ABX there as well. And to see how they developed that, how they encouraged those businesses to grow. And so I'm looking to see ways that to replicate ways that they had their business grow there, and replicate that here to help support not only our own cargo initiatives, but UPS operation FedEx is operation here locally. Jacksonville was a much smaller city, but it was also a military town, so I learned how to work with the military, which is a very big component of Columbia's market here. Also took all the facilities there and refreshed them, replaced the passenger terminal building, replaced the general aviation facility, built a cargo ramp, built a new air traffic control tower, snow removal equipment, building a variety of other facilities at the airport, and did it on a very restricted budget. So that was a good experience to learn how to maximize the impact of real limited dollars. Robert Luke As you expand a little bit into your vision, what were some of the other main factors that led you to accept the chief executive role here at Columbia metropolitan airport? Chris White Mostly it's the area. It's the quality of life is high. The cost of living is low. As an educational facility. There's lots of cultural activities in this area. The University is a strong draw because it brings a lot of like minded, intelligent individuals to an area Columbia is just, is just a southern hospitality, but it's also got a lot of business activity there is growing and expanding this area and attracting a lot of other businesses, a lot of business energy here that will help this area grow and become even more prosperous in the future. That's all very attractive. It's a lot of opportunities in the quality of life. Those are some of the big things. As far as the airport is concerned, the airport is got an exceptionally strong foundation. We've got a very talented team. The market is large enough that the airlines seem to be satisfied here. There is opportunity for growth as we expand the different markets that we serve. There is the cargo market is exceptionally strong and growing here as well. That is a very important aspect of it. And the airport has has taken care of itself. To where the facility needs are minimal, so it gives us the opportunity to be more entrepreneurial in our approach to the business here. So that's those are many of the things that attracted me to this market. I could go on for days, so. Robert Luke It sounds like you could, if you are able to what are some of the operators from a dedicated freighter cargo operation, apart from FedEx and UPS, you think would be an ideal fit for Columbia Metro? Chris White Well, I think we could potentially see Atlas or or Kalitta, or any of those operators to come into here. There are many more that that we're going to talk to to make sure that they're aware of our of our capabilities here, and what we could offer the services that we offer here. We have really easy access to interstates here, so it doesn't necessarily have to be someone who is who Columbia is their final destination for freight, somebody who just needs access. We are fairly close to Atlanta or fairly close to Florida. We're fairly close to parts of North Carolina, so we can feed a lot of a lot of areas out of here fairly easily, economically, Robert Luke Interesting, definitely economically. I agree with you there, as you embark on your new journey here at Columbia metropolitan airport, what kind of culture do you want to establish with your airport staff, and how do you want to be remembered when your job is done? Chris White Well, people first. That's really very important. It's people first. As somebody asked me recently, what's the most important aspect of the airport? I say it's the people, because people see the airport, they see concrete, steel, glass, but it's really the people that make things happen, that move passengers, said, that loaded unloaded airplanes and greet passengers and help them get to their final destinations. Otherwise, we're just a big parking lot, so it's the people. So taking care of our people is very, very important to me, hopefully someone who preserved or grew the capacity and the capabilities of our infrastructure here and left the airport better off than what we found it better off financially, as well as from a facility standpoint. So that's important, that we have a legacy of taking care of what we have here. Those, those are some of the key things that I hope to accomplish while I'm here. It's not about me, it's about the airport. It's about the market. And hopefully we can, we can get more service to more destinations. We can build this cargo business into helping the airport be more self sufficient and help help this thriving market. Airports are job generators. That's what we that's what our core mission is, is we're to help grow the capacity of the the community by creating jobs. We create jobs by supporting local industry. So it's not a job at the airport necessarily. It's a job at say, Scout motors, if we can help them grow by our existence here that we've accomplished part of our mission. Robert Luke As you reference Scout motors, could you speak a little bit more on that hidden feature that Columbia metropolitan can offer to better help clear foreign logistics and shipments that would be able to come through this airport, and why that would be an attractive option, not only just for the local big industry, but For other air cargo operators, considering this airport congestion. Chris White We offer, we offer an escape from the congestion you'll find in a lot of larger markets. In fact, just yesterday, Charlotte, just past Sunday, excuse me, Charlotte experienced a great deal of congestion because of weather. We didn't experience it, so we received a lot of the diversions that highlights why we would be an ideal location for people to ship into and out so you don't have to worry about that experience. There roadway congestion too. Our roads are fairly uncongested, especially by comparison to other larger markets. We have customs on site. We have fairly large aircraft aprons. We have a large workforce that is experienced with cargo with. UPS hub being here for many, many decades. So they're strong, good workforce to work from many other advantages, but our cost structure is going to be lower than what you'll find in other cities as well. Robert Luke So understand. Thank you. And then closing, if the world of aviation, travelers and operators, both passenger and cargo, airlines were listening to you right now. What would you say to them to bring them here to Columbia metropolitan airport? Chris White Well, Come experience the southern hospitality that we offer here, and thank you for flying local. Robert Luke And I think that about sums it up, Chris, I want to thank you for taking time out of your day, especially as you get started on your new journey here as chief executive of Columbia metropolitan airport. Congratulations, once again. I look forward to not only monitoring but seeing these new and exciting developments taking place here, both in the passenger and our air cargo operations that you offer. Chris White Well, thank you. Come back and visit us sometime soon. Robert Luke Well, I certainly will. Thank you. Robert Luke During my visit, I also sat down with Columbia Metropolitan Airport Vice President of Operations Ryan Kreulen to learn more about the airport’s new ground services division and why he believes there is increasing demand for air cargo support. Robert Luke Hello, Ryan, thank you for joining this interview with cargo facts, if you don't mind, tell us about how you became to be the Vice President of Operations here at Columbia metropolitan airport. Ryan Kreulen Yeah, absolutely. I appreciate you coming out and talking to us today. So my journey in aviation pretty much started before I was born. My dad was a United States Air Force pilot, and I think I took my first ride in a helicopter while my mom was still carrying me. So that's how it all started, but how I got here to Columbia, so I went to Auburn University. I had the idea at the time that I wanted to be an architect, and it became very clear to me when I was started all the math classes that really wasn't going to work out for me too well. So I looked through the course catalog and being a Air Force brat for my entire life. I saw that they had an aviation management program, and figured I'd give that a shot. So after I graduated with my degree in 2009 I started off in goldport, Biloxi International Airport in South Mississippi, in airport operations. I was there for one and a half to two years, and then moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where I worked at GSP for probably six and a half years, still in the airport operations world. And then I came down here to Columbia and continued my career in airport operations. And, you know, ultimately moved up the ranks, and now have the pleasure of being the VP of Operations here at Cae. Robert Luke Thank you for sharing that insightful background and how you came to be vice president. I'm going to shift over to something you discussed before the interview, and I want you to enlighten us on this new service that you're focusing on developing for the cargo operations, and expand on how this will not only benefit the airport, but entice other operators consider using Columbia metropolitan airport going forward. Ryan Kreulen Yep, absolutely so, probably close to a year or so ago, we I started developing what we're calling our Aviation Services Department. So the role of this department is to provide ground handling services for not only cargo, but passenger charter flights and scheduled flights as well. We currently do sports team charters for the teams coming in to play the Gamecocks through breeze and other carriers. And then while spirit had its presence here at cAe, we were their contracted ground handler for both above and below wing services until they left the market for the cargo side, we identified a need and an opportunity in the Columbia area, in the Midlands area, with the you know, announcement of the scout Motors plant, the different supplier parts that they're building to support the plant, and then the different pharmaceutical industries in the Midlands region, there really was no other than FedEx and UPS cargo handling capabilities here at the airport. And thanks to a grant that we received from the State Department of Commerce, we were able to procure all the ground service equipment required, and we're also going to use that grant to fund renovations of an existing building on the property that we will use for our warehousing and air cargo handling operations into the future. Robert Luke As we talk about the future, Ryan, what kind of new innovations or technology will be incorporated into this air services package. Ryan Kreulen Absolutely so we are actively looking for a specific software program to use with the industry moving more towards sustainability and electronic airway bills, the different options we're looking at will allow us to do that. So reduce paperwork by upwards of 75% and then when we're able to use sustainable products, sustainable practices and sustainable procedures to be as sustainable of an operation as we can Robert Luke thank you. And I presume this is all part of the logistics park development plan that's being initiated where you're looking to secure over a million square footage of spacing for warehousing. Ryan Kreulen Yes, we would love any tenants that come into our logistics part to have a need or be able to support our growth near cargo side of the business, Robert Luke And tell us a little bit about that. When does this development plan to begin? And when do you expect it to be open for service? Ryan Kreulen I believe it's a phased approach. We already have some warehouses that are completed with tenants, and we're just ongoing with additional construction. Robert Luke Okay, and as you speak to the additional interested parties that are listening to this recording right now, what would you say to them to let them know that not only are you able to meet the requirements logistically as far as innovation and technology and rapid clearance through customs, but what other features and benefits will be added or are attractive to these potential operators as you undergo the additional warehouse spacing that you're developing? Ryan Kreulen Yeah, absolutely, like Chris mentioned, we are. Location is very strategic. Being in the middle of the state, we're within a handful of miles from three major interstates. We have the development in the region, like I mentioned, with Scout motors, 2030 minute drive depending on traffic. So we are strategically located to support the development of Columbia and the Midlands. And additionally, within, I believe, a six hour drive, you can reach upwards of 50% of the population of the United States from Colombia. So whether your products are coming in and terminated in Colombia, or you, let us put it on a truck for you. You can get it to most of the population in the United States within a day's drop of Columbia. Robert Luke So the accessibility to nearly 50% of the country and the expansion with the logistics park development plan, how much room to grow does Columbia metropolitan airport have? Land space wise, if you start to see demand rapidly increase from operators and logistic companies. Ryan Kreulen So Columbia is in a good position with the amount of real estate that we own, we have a fair amount of available property. Some of it's ready for development right now. Some of it needs a little work, but we do have plans for expanded ramps in the future that will allow us to accommodate even more aircraft than we already can, and then there's definitely room for expansion when we get to that point. Okay? Robert Luke And I'm going to expand on your reference to scout motors here, and go back to how Boeing's launch in Charleston and BMW is launching Greenville Spartanburg created a wave of new business and logistics that expanded air carbon operations in each area respectively. What are your off the top of your head? What are your projections as you see, scuba motors finalize their production plant. Could this be a door opener to see a boom happen here in Columbia that was similar to Greenville, Spartanburg and Charleston? Ryan Kreulen Yes, I agree with that, like I mentioned, I spent some time working in Greenville on assisted with the cargo operations when I was there. So I do believe that the pro equipment. When Scout motors gets to the production cycle of the vehicles, we will see an influx of the need for air cargo and logistics services in Columbia, whether it's like you mentioned BMW in Greenville or Boeing in Charleston, any development of that size and scope as a benefit to the Midlands in the state. Just because they're an hour and a half away either direction doesn't mean we can't support another large business like that anywhere else in the state. Robert Luke Now I know you're kind of still scratching the surface of understanding the integration of the advanced air mobility strategy that was launched in November, but how much more could that increase lift capacity and force Columbia metro to have to make some of those crucial decisions, as far as moving general business aviation over to Jim. Hamilton's airport, and how could that also be a benefit, as far as supporting the local business industries with this new technology, whether it's drones or evtols, now starting to become more of a reality instead of a vision, I Ryan Kreulen wouldn't say we'd be forced to look into. We're actively looking at how urban air mobility can co exist with commercial air traffic that we have today. But I think any advancing of technology or different types of air service or ways of being transported via air whether it's a commercial jet or a drone or advanced Air Mobility, is only a benefit to the region. And you know, our airport and cub and the businesses in the region, okay? Robert Luke And circling back to your air services plan, could there eventually see some sort of a system be implemented where you now can process pharmaceuticals as one of your major customers. Ups. Shifts is focused to more health and pharma strategy through their network of the Future initiative, and if so, has it already been considered or evaluated by your executive team? Yes. Ryan Kreulen So like I mentioned previously, we renovate an existing building to help support our cargo development. We're the plans behind the renovations are for that to remain a flexible space. So my staff and the Aviation Services Department is actively training on how we handle pharmaceuticals, how we handle perishables, dangerous goods, any type of commodity. We'll have some level of training to be able to support whatever movement of cargo we need to support. I think if with the development of, you know, the pharmaceutical industry in Colombia in the transition by UPS, I do think it's a possibility in the future, but we're not going to design any renovations at the moment, strictly for pharmaceuticals, but we will be able to handle them. Robert Luke So the flexibility will be the key to be able to transition between all the products that you want. Ryan Kreulen Correct. I don't want to have to say no to anybody. Robert Luke Well, and on that note, I would love to say yes to more questions, but I know time is very limited, so I do want to thank you, Ryan for joining me today and giving your insights into the development of the cargo and passenger side of operations here at Columbia metropolitan airport. Ryan Kreulen Absolutely. Thank you very much. Robert Luke That was new Columbia Metropolitan Airport CEO Chris White and VP of Operations Ryan Kreulen, talking with me on site earlier this month. And that’s all the time we have today. For more coverage of the freighter aircraft market, visit cargofacts.com. Thank you very much for tuning in, and join us again next time. Subscribe to Cargo Facts Connect on iTunes or Spotify , or download the episode on Transistor . Cargo Facts will present four invaluable events for airfreight professionals in the first half of 2026, starting with Cargo Facts LATAM, on Feb. 10-12. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

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