The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

COLUMBIA, MO. -- Update: Friday March 2nd at 11:05 a.m.:

Passengers at the Columbia Regional Airport will soon be able to fly non-stop to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid announced this morning that Delta Airlines would be adding a daily midday flight to Atlanta on June 7.

The 50-passenger flights will leave Columbia at about 10:00 a.m. and return about 4:00 p.m.

McDavid said Atlanta is a perfect location for college sports fans traveling to and from SEC cities.

Delta officials will continue to operate 2 daily Memphis flights in Columbia.

McDavid said the Atlanta hub offers better international flights than Memphis.

McDavid said, “Mid-Missourians will have a direct, non-stop connection to Atlanta which offers 243 destinations.  Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has 608 international departures a week to 60 different countries.”

McDavid said this is just the first step towards several improvements at the Columbia Regional Airport including possible flights to Chicago and Dallas.

Columbia city leaders plan to spend $40 million on airport improvements over the next 7 years. The city will have to pay five percent or $2 million and federal grants will fund the rest of the work.

Original Story:

Columbia's Mayor Bob McDavid made a major announcement concerning the Columbia Regional Airport during a news conference Friday morning.

Mayor McDavid announced Delta Airlines will start offering non-stop flights to Atlanta from Columbia. There will be three flights a day including two flights to Memphis.

Currently, the only commerical carrier, Delta, flies exclusively to Memphis.