John Glenn Columbus International Airport Explained

Image2-Width:250
Faa:CMH
Iata:CMH
Icao:KCMH
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:Columbus Regional Airport Authority
City-Served:Columbus metropolitan area
Location:4600 International Gateway
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Elevation-F:815
Elevation-M:248
Coordinates:39.9981°N -82.8919°W
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:9
Mapframe-Wikidata:yes
R1-Number:10R/28L
R1-Length-F:10,114
R1-Length-M:3,083
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:10L/28R
R2-Length-F:8,000
R2-Length-M:2,438
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2023
Stat1-Header:Total passengers
Stat1-Data:8,375,281
Stat2-Header:Aircraft operations
Stat2-Data:44,368
Stat3-Header:Area
Stat3-Data:2,265 acres (917 ha)
Footnotes:Source:[1] [2] [3]
Image Mapsize:300
Image Map Caption:FAA airport diagram

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is an international airport located 6miles east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport, it is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field. The airport code "CMH" stands for "Columbus Municipal Hangar," the original name of the airport.[4]

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is primarily a passenger airport. It provides 148 non-stop flights to 31 airports via nine airlines daily.[5]

On May 25, 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill to rename the airport from Port Columbus International Airport to its current name, in honor of astronaut and four-term U.S. senator John Glenn.[6] The name change was unanimously approved by the airport's nine-member board on May 24, 2016.[7] Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the bill into law on June 14, 2016, with the name change becoming official 90 days later.[8] On June 28, 2016, a celebration of the renaming was held and new signage bearing the airport's new name was unveiled.[9]

History

Early history

The airport opened July 8, 1929 as the Columbus Municipal Hangar on a site selected by Charles Lindbergh, as the eastern air terminus of the Transcontinental Air Transport air-rail New York to Los Angeles transcontinental route. Passengers traveled overnight on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Airway Limited from New York to Columbus; by air from Columbus to Waynoka, Oklahoma; by rail again on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe from Waynoka to Clovis, New Mexico; and by air from Clovis to Los Angeles.[10] The original terminal building and hangars remain; the hangars are still in use, but the old terminal sits derelict.[11]

During World War II, most of the facility was taken over by the U.S. Navy, which established Naval Air Station Columbus in 1942. NAS Columbus was closed and the facility relinquished back to civilian authorities in 1946.[12] [13] Also, during the war, the government established a government-owned aviation factory on the grounds of the airport known as Air Force Factory 85, eventually operated by North American Aviation. The plant produced the F-100 Super Sabre, RA-5 Vigilante, T-2 Buckeye, T-28 Trojan, OV-10 Bronco and T-39 Sabreliner.

The diagram on the February 1951 Coast & Geodetic Survey instrument-approach chart shows runways 006/186 3550 ft long, 052/232 4400 ft, 096/276 4500 ft, and 127/307 5030 ft.

A new $12 million terminal building opened on September 21, 1958. Jet airline flights (American 707s) started in April 1964.

Historical airline service

The April 1957 Official Airline Guide shows 72 airline departures each weekday: 41 TWA, 16 American, 6 Eastern, 6 Lake Central and 3 Piedmont.

The first major airline to fly into Columbus was TWA, and it kept a presence at Columbus over 70 years during the era of airline regulation. TWA offered a club for exclusive passengers up until 2000 when America West took over a gate held by TWA and the club itself due to financial problems. The site of the club is now Eddie George‘s 27 grille.

Columbus was formerly a hub of America West Airlines, which it opened in 1993, but the company closed the hub in 2003 due to financial losses and the post-9/11-decline in air travel.[14]

The airport was the home base of short-lived Skybus Airlines, which began operations from Columbus on May 22, 2007. The airline touted themselves as the cheapest airline in the United States, offering a minimum of ten seats for $10 each on every flight. Skybus ceased operations April 4, 2008.[15]

Recent improvements

A $70 million renovation of airport facilities, designed by Brubaker/Brandt, was initiated in 1979 for the airport's 50th anniversary and completed in 1981.[16] This upgraded the airport's capacity to 250 flights per day by adding what is known today as Concourse B and added fully enclosed jetways at every gate. Ten years later in 1989, a second, $15.5 million, seven-gate south concourse (now Concourse A) was dedicated. The concourse was used exclusively by US Airways at the time, and later housed hubs for both America West Airlines until 2003, and Skybus Airlines until they shut it down in 2008 due to their bankruptcy. A north concourse was completed in 1996, which is now Concourse C, and was expanded in 2002.

Between 1998 and 2000, numerous airport expansion and renovation projects were completed, including a $25 million terminal renovation in 1998 that included additional retail shops, new flight information displays, enhanced lighting, upgraded flooring, and a new food court. Also, new hangars and office spaces were completed for NetJets in 1999, as well as a $92 million parking garage including an underground terminal entrance, new rental car facilities, dedicated ground transportation area, improved eight-lane terminal access on two levels, and a new atrium and entrances in 2000, which were designed by URS Corporation.[17]

On April 25, 2004, a new 1950NaN0 control tower directed its first aircraft. This began several major facility enhancements to be constructed through 2025. On October 21, 2010, a new arrivals/departures board replaced the old one in the main entrance area

Columbus began its Terminal Modernization Program in late 2012, which included new terrazzo flooring throughout the airport, new ceilings, new restrooms, more TSA security lanes, and new LED lighting. Construction started on Concourse A in late 2012 and was completed throughout the terminal in early 2016.[18]

In 2013, the airport completed a $140 million runway improvement that moved the south runway farther from the north runway. This created a buffer distance that enables simultaneous takeoffs and landings on the north and south runways, increasing air traffic volume. Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman commented, "As the city grows, the airport needs to grow with it."[19]

In 2019, construction began on a new car rental facility at the airport, with an estimated budget of $140 million.[20] This facility moves car rental out of the parking garage, opening up more spaces for travelers. The new building opened in late 2021, and utilizes electric buses to transport passengers.[21]

Recent history

Many airlines introduced new routes in the late 2010s, with the addition of Spirit Airlines with multiple destinations and Alaska Airlines with one daily flight to Seattle. Occasionally, larger aircraft that the airport is not used to receiving on a regular basis, such as the Boeing 767 and 777, are chartered through John Glenn and serviced by Lane Aviation.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many new, current, and to-be-expanded routes were canceled or reduced. Air Canada temporarily suspended service to Columbus, while airlines such as United, American, and Delta used smaller aircraft for some of their mainline routes. Many of these routes saw an increase of service in mid-2021 as restrictions lifted and demand for air travel grew.

Startup Breeze Airways also selected Columbus as one of its launch destinations in July 2021 with five routes. The airline added additional routes from the airport in May 2023.[22] Sun Country Airlines announced a plan to fly to the airport during the 2023 summer season.[23]

Plans have been in development for many years for a new terminal, set to begin construction in 2024 to replace the current, aging building, beginning with the new car rental facility completed in 2021. As such, these plans involve a complete relocation of major on-site facilities, such as Lane Aviation's entire complex, in order to accommodate the project. The new terminal is suggested to house roughly 40 gates, 6 more than the current terminal capacity (2 of which intended for international arrivals), and would be one interconnected structure rather than three separate concourses inaccessible to each other past security.

In spring 2023, the airport prepared for a record travel summer matching traffic levels from before the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] [25]

Facilities

Terminal

Commercial Terminal

John Glenn Columbus International Airport has one terminal with three concourses, and a total of 34 gates.[26] Non-precleared international flights are processed in Concourse C, which contains the airports customs facility.

General Aviation Terminals

The airport has two fixed-base operators, which offer fuel (both avgas and jet fuel), aircraft parking, conference rooms, crew lounges, snooze rooms, showers, courtesy transportation, and more.[27] [28]

Ground transportation

The airport is accessible directly by taking exit number nine on Interstate 670 to International Gateway. Alternatively, drivers can also get to the airport from the east via Hamilton Road, just south of Interstate 270, and enter at Sawyer Road or from the west via Stelzer Road.

Connected to the terminal is a six-story parking garage that provides long-term and short-term parking. Lower cost satellite parking options, with continuous free shuttle service, can be found in the Blue, Red and Green parking lots along International Gateway. The Blue lot is the closest to the terminal and also offers some covered parking. The cost of parking a car in the blue lot is $9 per 24 hours. The Red Lot costs $7 per 24 hours and the green lost costs $5 per 24 hours to park. The Green lot is the furthest away from the terminal. Additionally, there is a free cell phone lot accessed from the outbound side of International Gateway.[29] [30]

The Columbus Metropolitan Area's bus service, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), has two bus services between the airport and downtown Columbus. AirConnect, a service that began in 2016, stops at the arrival and departure levels every 30 minutes.[31] COTA's 7 Mt. Vernon route is operated from downtown, with every other bus serving either the airport or Easton Transit Center.[32] [33]

The GoBus Rural Inter-City Bus Service operates a thrice daily schedule to Athens, via Lancaster, Logan, and Nelsonville.[34]

Inbound taxi services operate through numerous taxi businesses in the Columbus area. A number of taxi services provide outbound transportation in the taxi lane.[35]

Other facilities

In 2001, Executive Jet Aviation (now known as NetJets), opened up a 200000square feet operational headquarters.[36]

In November 2006, Skybus Airlines began leasing 100000square feet of office and hangar facilities at the Columbus International AirCenter adjacent to the airport.[37]

Regional carrier Republic Airways operates a large crew and maintenance base at the airport.

The airport has its own police and fire departments (ARFF-C).

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from CMH (January 2023 - December 2023)[38]
RankCityPassengersCarriers
1Atlanta, Georgia410,000Delta, Southwest
2Orlando, Florida276,000Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
3Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois250,000American, United
4Denver, Colorado227,000Frontier, Southwest, United
5Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas217,000American
6Charlotte, North Carolina193,000American
7New York–LaGuardia, New York164,000American, Delta
8Chicago–Midway, Illinois161,000Southwest
9Las Vegas, Nevada140,000Southwest, Spirit
10Fort Lauderdale, Florida137,000Southwest, Spirit

Airline market share

+Airline market share (June 2023 – May 2024)[39] Rank Carrier PassengersPercentage
1 2,808,00033.47%
2 Republic Airways1,292,00015.41%
3American Airlines948,00011.31%
4 810,0009.66%
5 687,0008.19%
6 Other 1,842,00021.96%

Airport traffic

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 98,185 aircraft movements, an average of 269 per day. This was 65% commercial, 19% general aviation, 16% air taxi, and <1% military. For the same time period, 88 aircraft were based at the airport: 50 jets, 27 single-engine and 9 multi-engine airplanes, and 2 helicopters.[40] [41]

Annual passenger traffic

Annual passenger traffic at CMH 1994–present[42] [43] !Year!Passengers!Year!Passengers!Year!Passengers
19945,439,82020046,232,33220146,355,974
19955,636,54920056,611,57520156,795,978
19966,275,58720066,733,99020167,324,180
19976,517,22220077,719,34020177,576,592
19986,420,03720086,910,04520188,141,656
19996,541,85120096,233,48520198,637,108
20006,882,48520106,366,19120203,269,127
20016,670,89720116,378,72220215,822,322
20026,741,35420126,350,97420227,455,031
20036,252,06120136,236,52820238,375,281

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. effective January 25, 2024.
  2. Web site: CMH airport data at skyvector.com. skyvector.com. September 3, 2022.
  3. Web site: CMH Airport Final Statistics for 2023. flycolumbus.com. January 31, 2024.
  4. Web site: Airport ABCs: An Explanation of Airport Identifier Codes. skygod.com. July 22, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20090207201206/http://skygod.com/asstd/abc.html. February 7, 2009. dead.
  5. Web site: 2020 Sample Flight Schedule. March 2020. Columbus Regional Airport Authority. April 4, 2020. April 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404220512/https://flycolumbus.com/storage/production/20200123114025-sample-flight-schedule-from-columbus-2020.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: Bill naming John Glenn airport passes in Ohio. Associated Press.
  7. Web site: Ohio Airport to Be Named in Honor of Astronaut John Glenn. May 25, 2016. June 16, 2016. Julie Carr Smyth. Associated Press.
  8. Web site: Law signed naming John Glenn International Airport. Johnson. Alan. June 14, 2016. The Columbus Dispatch. 2016-06-16.
  9. Web site: Ohio's Columbus airport renamed for astronaut John Glenn. USA Today. 2016-07-01.
  10. Flying Magazine. January 1959. Columbus Prepared for Progress. Fred J. Bunyan.
  11. Web site: Port Columbus Milestones. Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2012. July 28, 2012. February 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110207053012/http://columbusairports.com/about-us/our-history/. dead.
  12. Web site: Data. Epa.ohio.gov.
  13. Web site: Item . Navalaviationmuseum.org.
  14. Web site: America West in Columbus . PSA History Page . 2003–2007 . July 22, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070810045729/http://www.psa-history.org/awa/cmh.html . August 10, 2007 .
  15. News: Skybus To End Operations. 10TV.com. April 4, 2008. March 9, 2018.
  16. Engineering News-Record. Engineering News-Record. 1979. 202. 1–13. 271. June 28, 2012.
  17. Web site: AECOM. June 28, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131216163819/http://www.urscorp.com/Projects/projView.php?s=609&sec=19&pn=5. December 16, 2013. dead.
  18. Web site: The One International Gateway Project Expands John Glenn International. Flycolumbus.com. February 12, 2022.
  19. Web site: Weese . Evan . Port Columbus 'Staying Ahead of Demand Curve' With New South Runway . Columbus Business First . August 22, 2013 .
  20. Web site: 2019-04-18. New Rental Car Facility Under Construction at CMH. 2021-04-06. Columbus Underground. en-US.
  21. Web site: New Rental Car Facility Fact Sheet. Flycolumbus.com. 2021-04-05.
  22. Web site: Breeze Airways adding three southeastern destinations from Columbus . 2023-05-24 . The Columbus Dispatch . en-US.
  23. Web site: Comer . Natalie . 2022-11-15 . New airline coming to Columbus next year . 2023-05-24 . WSYX . ABC News . en.
  24. News: Buchanan . Tyler . April 26, 2023 . Gear up for air travel hell this summer . Axios . May 24, 2023.
  25. Web site: Tonoli . Amanda . May 23, 2023 . Columbus airports expect to break pre-pandemic travel records in summer 2023 . 2023-05-24 . Columbus Business First . The Business Journals.
  26. Web site: Terminal Maps . Flycolumbus.com. 13 March 2021.
  27. Web site: Signature Flight Support FBO Info & Fuel Prices at John Glenn Columbus Intl Airport (KCMH) . 2023-05-24 . FlightAware . en.
  28. Web site: Lane Aviation FBO Info & Fuel Prices at John Glenn Columbus Intl Airport (KCMH) . 2023-05-24 . FlightAware . en.
  29. Web site: Parking Maps. Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2007. August 16, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070816061558/http://www.port-columbus.com/parking/parking/maps.asp. August 16, 2007. mdy-all.
  30. Web site: Shuttle Lots and Airport Property. Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2009. December 5, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091207223238/http://www.port-columbus.com/maps/lots.asp. December 7, 2009 . mdy-all.
  31. Web site: COTA plans bus line between airport and Downtown. Dispatch.com. 2016-02-20.
  32. Web site: Public Transportation. Flycolumbus.com. October 17, 2023 .
  33. Web site: Archived copy . March 23, 2020 . March 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200323180826/https://www.cota.com/wp-content/themes/gotravel-child/PDF/lines/7.pdf . dead .
  34. Web site: Route A: Columbus // Athens // Parkersburg Schedule -. ridegobus.com. June 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170621224321/http://ridegobus.com/routes/columbus-athens/columbus-schedule/#/poloko////search. June 21, 2017. dead.
  35. Web site: Taxi Services. Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2007. July 22, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070713130248/http://www.port-columbus.com/parking/transportation/taxis.asp. July 13, 2007. mdy-all.
  36. Web site: Executive Jet, Inc. Inaugurates New Operations Center . Netjets Inc. . June 14, 2000 . August 16, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927064027/http://www.netjets.com/Learn_More/Press_Releases/2000/pr2000_06_14.asp . September 27, 2007.
  37. Web site: Skybus will establish headquarters at Columbus International AirCenter . Skybus Airlines Inc. . November 10, 2006 . August 16, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070710130005/http://www3.skybus.com/skybusNews_detail.aspx?NewsPressReleaseID=6 . July 10, 2007 .
  38. Web site: RITA – BTS – Transtats. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. March 28, 2024.
  39. Web site: Katz. Ezra. January 28, 2020. Fly Columbus Traffic Report. April 4, 2020. Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
  40. Web site: AirNav: KCMH - John Glenn Columbus International Airport . 2023-05-24 . www.airnav.com.
  41. Web site: CMH - John Glenn Columbus International Airport SkyVector . 2023-05-24 . skyvector.com.
  42. Web site: Columbus Regional Airport Authority . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101214021053/http://columbusairports.com/media/docs/PR_325_Jan2010updated.pdf . December 14, 2010 .
  43. Web site: CMH Airline Statistics Flight Stats at John Glenn International. 2022-02-03. Flycolumbus.com. en.
  44. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident description Convair CV-240-0 N94263. Aviation Safety Network. 1954. November 13, 2007.
  45. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident description British Aerospace BAe 4101 Jetstream 41 N304UE. Aviation Safety Network. 1994. November 13, 2007.
  46. Web site: Beech 58 crash in Ohio (N258B) PlaneCrashMap.com . 2023-05-24 . planecrashmap.com.
  47. Web site: Cessna 560XL crash in Ohio (N699QS) PlaneCrashMap.com . 2023-05-24 . planecrashmap.com.
  48. Web site: Cessna 210C crash in Ohio (N3601Y) PlaneCrashMap.com . 2023-05-24 . planecrashmap.com.
  49. Web site: Piaggio P180 crash in Ohio (N140SL) PlaneCrashMap.com . 2023-05-24 . planecrashmap.com.
  50. Web site: EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK As Sportstar crash in Ohio (N904LA) PlaneCrashMap.com . 2023-05-24 . planecrashmap.com.
  51. Web site: WSYX Staff . 2023-04-23 . Plane makes emergency landing at CMH following bird strike . 2023-05-24 . WRGT . en.
  52. Web site: Grant . Teddy . April 23, 2023 . American Airlines plane returns to Ohio airport after possible bird strike, FAA says . 2023-05-24 . ABC News . en.
  53. Web site: Tan . Huileng . American Airlines plane forced to return to Ohio airport after possible bird strike, FAA says . 2023-05-24 . Business Insider . en-US.