Atlantic Southwest Airlines opens new hangar at Columbia Metropolitan Airport

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Sept. 21--Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which operates United Express regional jets from Columbia to hubs in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, is unveiling a new permanent maintenance hangar today at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

The airline has refurbished the old "Doolittle" Hangar near Eagle Aviation and will hold a ceremony today with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, airport officials and others.

The facility will be the airline's overnight maintenance base.

Atlantic Southeast began performing maintenance at the airport last year, but it has not had a permanent hangar facility until now.

The new hangar is 35,350 square feet. The airline has been operating at a much smaller facility in another part of the airport, airport spokeswoman Lynne Douglas said.

Atlantic Southeast employs 75 people at the facility.

Today's event begins at 6 p.m. at the hangar. Joining Benjamin will be Ken Ashworth, Atlantic Southeast's vice president of maintenance.