Cincinnati's Airports: A Comprehensive Overview

Cincinnati, Ohio, is served by three airports in the immediate area. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is the largest and is located in Boone County, Kentucky. It is the primary airport for Cincinnati and northern Kentucky residents, offering nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe. The Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport (LUK) is located southeast of Downtown Cincinnati and is often referred to as a reliever airport for CVG. The third airport is the Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport, which is located north of the city and is primarily a small general aviation airport.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is located in Boone County, Kentucky, United States, and serves the Cincinnati tri-state area. The airport is the largest in Cincinnati and is the primary airport for Cincinnati and northern Kentucky residents. It is located in an unincorporated area of Boone County, with the airport terminal using a Hebron postal address.

The airport's code, CVG, is derived from Covington, the nearest city when the airport opened. Covering an area of 7,000 acres (10.9 sq mi; 28.3 km2), it is a medium-hub primary commercial service facility as categorised by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027.

The airport has been a long-standing part of the community since the 1940s and is currently one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in North America. It offers nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe and handles numerous domestic and international cargo flights daily. It is the sixth busiest airport in the US by cargo traffic and the twelfth largest in the world.

The airport has one terminal and two concourses with a total of 51 gates. Both concourses are islands and are only accessible by an underground moving walkway and people mover. All international arrivals without pre-clearance are handled in Concourse B.

Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport

There are three airports in the immediate Cincinnati area, one of which is Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport. The airport is located in the Columbia-Tusculum neighbourhood, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Cincinnati. It is owned by the City of Cincinnati and serves private aircraft, including the fleets of local corporations. It also serves a few commercial flights and is the second-largest airport serving Cincinnati.

The airport has a rich history in aviation. In 1925, the Embry-Riddle Company was formed at Lunken Airport by T. Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle. The company later moved to Florida and became the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 1928, the T. E. Halpin Development Co (later the Metal Aircraft Corporation) produced 22 Flamingo aircraft at the airport. The Aeronca Aircraft Corporation was also formed at the airport in the same year to build cheap light aircraft, and over 500 C-2 and C-3 aircraft were constructed there.

In 1937, the airfield and two-story main terminal building were submerged during the Ohio River flood, except for the third-floor air traffic control "tower". The airport flooded again in 1945 and 1948, and these incidents, along with the introduction of larger aircraft that required longer runways, led to the airport being supplanted by the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Today, Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport is home to small charter airlines, including Ultimate Air Shuttle and Flamingo Air, the latter of which also operates an aviation school. The airport also contains public recreation areas, including an 18-hole golf course, playgrounds, and walking/biking paths surrounding the airfield.

Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport

There are three airports in the immediate Cincinnati area. One of them, the Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport, was a public airport located in Blue Ash, Ohio, United States, and owned by the City of Cincinnati. It was situated 16.5 miles (or 6 miles according to another source) northeast of downtown Cincinnati.

The airfield was commercially leased to brothers Hugh and Parks Watson in 1922. It became a popular spot for weekend airplane rides and flying circus air shows. In 1925, the Grisard Company sold the Blue Ash airfield to the Watson brothers, and it became known as Watson Field.

In the following years, Cincinnati politicians and civic leaders discussed building a large commercial airport at the Blue Ash location. However, these plans faced opposition from Blue Ash civic leaders and residents, and the expansion attempts failed. The city's development plans were also hampered by community opposition, failed bond measures, and political infighting.

The airport had a rich history, with scheduled flights to Cleveland and Louisville, Kentucky, as early as 1928. It also hosted an annual air show known as Blue Ash Airport Days from 1997 to 2009. Despite its long history and local support, the airport faced declining revenues, and the city concluded that it could not afford to keep it operational. As a result, the Cincinnati–Blue Ash Airport was permanently closed on August 29, 2012, after 91 years of continuous service.

CVG's booming cargo business

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, or CVG, has experienced a booming cargo business in recent years, becoming one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in the world. This growth is even more remarkable considering the airport's history of serving only a few airlines and high prices. The airport's leadership has successfully attracted new carriers and diversified its revenue streams, contributing to its thriving cargo operations.

Located in Boone County, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, CVG spans 7,700 acres and serves the aviation needs of the Cincinnati area and northern Kentucky residents. While passenger traffic at CVG took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 60% drop in daily arrivals and departures, the airport's cargo operations thrived. The pandemic accelerated the shift towards online shopping, and CVG's cargo business played a crucial role in supporting the surge in e-commerce.

The airport's cargo operations are led by two giants in the industry: DHL Express and Amazon Air. DHL, the international express shipping company, chose CVG as one of its three global hubs. In 2009, DHL established its presence at CVG and completed its one-million-square-foot North American hub in 2013. Amazon Air, the e-commerce giant's cargo airline, followed suit and established its presence at CVG in 2017, investing $1.5 billion in its air cargo hub.

The presence of these two major cargo tenants has brought significant benefits to CVG. Firstly, they contribute substantially to the airport's landing fees, which are crucial for the airport's financial health. Secondly, the cargo business has helped attract new passenger carriers by keeping the costs low for them. This, in turn, has made CVG even more attractive to businesses and passengers alike.

The cargo business at CVG is showing no signs of slowing down. Amazon Air's continued expansion and investment in its hub at CVG are testament to the airport's strategic location and efficient operations. DHL's ongoing commitment to CVG, as evidenced by its plans to open a new maintenance hangar, further solidifies the airport's position as a key cargo hub.

As CVG continues to execute its strategic plan, the airport is well-positioned to become the "epicenter of e-commerce" and a pivotal part of the region's "aviation ecosystem." The airport's leadership has successfully navigated challenges and adapted to changing industry dynamics, ensuring that CVG remains a vital link in the global supply chain and a key contributor to the local economy.

CVG's Escape Lounge

There are three airports in the immediate Cincinnati, Ohio area: Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Lunken Airport, and Blue Ash Airport. The primary airport for Cincinnati is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, located in Boone County, Kentucky. This airport has been serving the area since the 1940s and has become one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in recent years.

The CVG Escape Lounge is located in Concourse B, between Gates B21 and B23, and is open from 5 am to 9 pm Monday through Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and from 5 am to 8 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. The lounge offers a calm and relaxing environment for travellers, with a range of amenities to enhance their travel experience.

For $45 per person, guests can enjoy complimentary freshly prepared food and drinks, including hot and cold dishes curated by local chefs, featuring local cuisine with gluten-free and vegan options. The lounge also offers a complimentary bar with barista-style coffee, draft beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as a range of soft drinks.

In addition to culinary delights, the Escape Lounge provides ultra-fast private Wi-Fi, charging ports, and print, scan, and copy services. Guests can also access PressReader, which offers digital access to 7,000+ newspapers and magazines. The lounge is family-friendly, with children aged 0-24 months granted free entry, and it adheres to a smart-casual dress code.

The Escape Lounge is accessible to all travellers, regardless of airline or ticket class. Guests can either pre-book their space online at least 24 hours in advance or pay at the door on the day of their visit. Free access is provided for American Express Platinum Card Members, Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members (on Delta-marketed flights), and Priority Pass cardholders.

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