Last week's announcement that Mesaba Airlines will start taking Columbia passengers to Memphis was good news for mid-Missouri, but it's not a fix-all for the problems at Columbia Regional Airport.

Flyers are at an all-time low, but Mesaba is just one step toward making Columbia support its own air service.

Columbia's airport can't grow unless people fly, but they don't fly because small planes only go to Kansas City, so Memphis may be the answer.

But if people don't get on those planes, Mesaba will want to get out of town when their two years is up.

"It's a service that can grow with us and we're hopeful that we can bring those numbers back up here," said Kathy Frerking, Airport Manager.

Airport planners are working hard to try to bring in more customers and more airlines.

"There's a lot of decisions that still need to be made," said Frerking.