Columbus Ohio Airport: A Sprawling Hub For Travelers

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The airport is named after astronaut and four-term US senator John Glenn. It is the largest passenger terminal in central Ohio, with two runways spanning 2,265 acres, and is the second busiest airport in the state after Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The airport offers 148 non-stop flights daily to 31 airports via nine airlines.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport's history

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (IATA: CMH, ICAO: KCMH, FAA LID: CMH) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The airport is spread across 2,265 acres and has two runways. It is one of three airports in Columbus, along with Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field, and is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

The airport first opened on July 8, 1929, as the Columbus Municipal Hangar, with the site selected by Charles Lindbergh. Passengers travelled overnight on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Airway Limited from New York to Columbus, and then by air from Columbus to Waynoka, Oklahoma. The original terminal building remains, although it is now derelict, and the hangars are still in use.

In 1979, a $70 million renovation of airport facilities was initiated to upgrade the airport's capacity to 250 flights per day. This project was completed in 1981 and included the addition of what is now known as Concourse B, as well as the installation of fully enclosed jetways at every gate. Further expansion took place in the following decades, with the addition of Concourse A in 1989 and Concourse C in 1996.

In May 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill to rename the airport from Port Columbus International Airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport, in honour of astronaut and four-term US senator John Glenn. The name change was officially approved by the airport's board and signed into law by Governor John Kasich in June 2016.

The airport has continued to undergo improvements, including a $140 million runway improvement project in 2013 and an $80 million terminal renovation in 2017, which led to it being named the Most Improved Airport in North America. In 2023, construction began on a new terminal building, which is slated for completion in 2029.

Rickenbacker International Airport

The airport is home to the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing and the Ohio Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility. In 2001, construction began on a consolidated Navy and Marine Corps Air Reserve Center, which was completed in 2003. Rickenbacker has also been recognised for its accessibility features, being among over 30 U.S. airports offering the Aira app and smart glasses service to assist blind and low-vision travellers in navigating airport facilities.

Parking options

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The airport is the largest passenger terminal in central Ohio and the second busiest in the state after Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport offers a variety of parking options for travellers. The airport has a six-story parking garage that provides both long-term and short-term parking options. This garage is connected to the terminal for easy access. Additionally, there are three satellite parking lots: the Blue Lot, the Red Lot, and the Green Lot. These lots are located along International Gateway and offer lower-cost parking options with a free shuttle service to and from the terminal. The Blue Lot is the closest to the terminal and offers covered parking for $9 per 24 hours. The Red Lot is slightly further away and costs $7 per 24 hours, while the Green Lot, the furthest from the terminal, costs $5 per 24 hours. All three satellite lots have designated ADA-accessible spaces, and the shuttle buses are equipped with wheelchair and electric scooter lifts.

For those waiting to pick up arriving passengers, there is a free cell phone lot accessed from the outbound side of International Gateway. This lot offers a one-hour grace period for those who are waiting for a passenger's flight to land. Additionally, there is a free waiting area near the terminal.

There are also off-site parking options available near the airport, such as The Parking Spot on Stelzer Road, which offers a more cost-effective alternative to on-site parking and provides a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.

Transport to and from the airport

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is located just 6 miles east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The airport is only 10 minutes from downtown and there are plenty of transport options to and from the airport.

The airport has a six-story parking garage with long-term and short-term parking. There are also lower-cost satellite parking options in the Blue, Red, and Green parking lots along International Gateway. The Blue Lot is the closest to the terminal and offers covered parking. The Red and Green Lots are further away and are cheaper. There is also a free cell phone lot that can be accessed from the outbound side of International Gateway.

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) provides a bus service between the airport and downtown Columbus. Taxis are available on the ground transportation level, and there are local limo and charter bus companies operating at the airport.

If you are driving to the airport from the east, you can enter via Hamilton Road, just south of Interstate 270, and enter at Sawyer Road. If you are coming from the west, you can enter via Stelzer Road.

The airport is easily accessible and offers a range of transportation options to suit different needs and preferences.

Services and facilities

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport, is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. The airport is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority and primarily serves passenger flights, processing around six million passengers annually.

John Glenn Columbus International Airport offers a wide range of services and facilities for tourists, residents, and business travellers. The airport features a central passenger security checkpoint and a 5,000-space parking garage with electric charging stations, accessibility accommodations, and a seamless connection to the transportation centre and rental car centre via a pedestrian bridge. The airport's tower operates 24 hours a day, directing all types of aircraft to and from two parallel runways. The airport also offers Category I and II Landing Systems for all-weather landing capabilities.

The Ticketing Level (second floor) houses most of the terminal's facilities, including cash machines, a bureau de change, a postal centre, and the Airport Business Centre, which offers business facilities such as telephones, fax machines, photocopiers, notary services, and conference rooms. The Airport Information Centre, located in the Baggage Reclaim Hall, provides helpful information and maps of the airport and the city of Columbus.

The airport also features a diverse range of shopping and dining options, with newsagents, gift shops, souvenir shops, fashion boutiques, and bookshops located on the concourses and Ticketing Level. A variety of cafés, snack bars, restaurants, and bars are available throughout the airport, including fast-food outlets in the food court of Gateway Plaza and a golf-themed full-service restaurant on Concourse C.

Additional facilities at the airport include Skycaps porter service, a first-aid station, a meditation room, a pet rest area, a shoeshine service, and massage chairs in the main atrium and on each concourse. The airport also conforms to US standards for disabled visitors, providing ramps, wide aisles, Braille-controlled lifts, TDD telephones, wheelchairs on request, and adapted family room toilets.

Frequently asked questions