Located about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Columbia in Boone County, Missouri, it is the only commercial airport in Mid-Missouri and also serves the state capital of Jefferson City.

Columbia Regional is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.

[3] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 12,719 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[4] 26,842 in 2009 and 38,293 in 2010.

Part of the current Candlelight lodge on the north side of Business Loop 70 was then known as the Allton Hotel.

Improvements were made with Civil Aeronautics Administration assistance so that the airport would serve as an emergency landing field for the airway between Kansas City and St. Louis.

In 1960, the Columbia Airport consisted of 470 acres purchased at a cost of $154,000 of which only $8,723.47 was contributed by the Federal Aviation Agency.

By August 11, 1967, ground was broken, officially beginning construction on Columbia Regional Airport.

The main 6500-foot runway had its dedication November 2, 1968 and the new Columbia Regional Airport opened in December 1968.

In 2008, Northwest Airlink (Mesaba Airlines) replaced US Airways Express, flying Saab 340s to Memphis.

As part of this update, Delta Connection stopped accepting Essential Air Service subsidies.

On April 18, 2019, at a coffee round-table discussing the new terminal master plan, future destinations, and parking at the airport, it was revealed the airport hopes to add an additional 200 parking spots as well as have a design for the new terminal by the end of the year.

Passengers expressed interest in adding Atlanta, Charlotte, and Las Vegas to the airport's growing list of destinations.

[1] For the 12-month period ending October 31, 2022, the airport had 24,063 aircraft operations, average 66 per day: 79% general aviation, 12% air taxi, 8% airline, and 1% military.