
John Glenn Columbus International Airport, formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport, was renamed in 2016 to honour Ohio native, former astronaut, and U.S. senator John Glenn. The airport, located in Columbus, Ohio, is the main international airport serving the city and was originally named Columbus Municipal Hangar when it opened in 1929.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Former name | Port Columbus International Airport |
| Current name | John Glenn Columbus International Airport |
| Date renamed | June 14, 2016 |
| Renamed by | Ohio Governor John Kasich |
| Date name change became official | 90 days after being signed into law |
| Date of renaming celebration | June 28, 2016 |
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What You'll Learn
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport was formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport
- The airport was renamed in 2016 to honour US Senator and astronaut John Glenn
- The airport's nine-member board unanimously approved the name change on May 24, 2016
- The bill to rename the airport was passed by the Ohio General Assembly on May 25, 2016
- The airport's original name was Columbus Municipal Hangar, which opened in 1929

John Glenn Columbus International Airport was formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport
John Glenn Columbus International Airport, with the airport code CMH, is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport. The airport is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also manages Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field Airport.
The airport was originally named Columbus Municipal Hangar when it opened on July 8, 1929. The name was chosen as the airport served as the eastern air terminus of the Transcontinental Air Transport air-rail New York to Los Angeles transcontinental route. The airport code CMH stands for "Columbus Municipal Hangar".
The airport was renamed to Port Columbus International Airport sometime after its opening in 1929. In 1952, larger airplanes were able to land at Port Columbus after the east-west runway was extended from 4,500 to 8,000 feet. By 1953, it was determined that the airport needed to be better positioned for future growth, and operations were moved from the Fifth Avenue terminal to a more central location on the airport property.
On May 25, 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill to rename the airport from Port Columbus International Airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport, in honor of Ohio native, former astronaut, and four-term U.S. senator John Glenn. The bill was signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich on June 14, 2016, with the name change becoming official 90 days later. A celebration was held on June 28, 2016, where new signage bearing the airport's new name was unveiled.
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The airport was renamed in 2016 to honour US Senator and astronaut John Glenn
The decision to rename the airport was made by the Ohio General Assembly, which passed a bill on May 25, 2016, to change the airport's name from Port Columbus International Airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The bill was then signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich on June 14, 2016, with the name change becoming official 90 days later. The airport's nine-member board unanimously approved the name change on May 24, 2016, the day before the bill was passed.
John Glenn was a pioneering figure in American space exploration and served as a US Senator for four terms. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the Earth, and at the age of 77, he returned to space, becoming the oldest person to do so. Glenn's spirit of adventure and service inspired the renaming of the airport in his honour.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to its opening on July 8, 1929, as the Columbus Municipal Hangar. The site was selected by Charles Lindbergh and played a crucial role in the first transcontinental air/rail service from New York to Los Angeles. Over the years, the airport has undergone various renovations and expansions to accommodate increasing air traffic and improve passenger experience. Today, the airport serves over seven million passengers annually and continues to be a vital transportation hub for the region.
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The airport's nine-member board unanimously approved the name change on May 24, 2016
The name change from Port Columbus International Airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport was approved unanimously by the airport's nine-member board on May 24, 2016. The bill to rename the airport was passed by the Ohio General Assembly on May 25, 2016, and was signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich on June 14, 2016. The name change became official 90 days later.
The airport, located in Columbus, Ohio, is the main international airport serving the city and is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. The airport's code, "CMH", stands for "Columbus Municipal Hangar", the original name of the airport when it opened on July 8, 1929.
The name change was implemented to honour Ohio native, former astronaut, and four-term U.S. senator, John Glenn. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962 and, at the age of 77, became the oldest person to enter space. His pioneering spirit inspired the renaming of the airport in 2016.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to its opening in 1929 as a significant stop on the first transcontinental air/rail service from New York to Los Angeles. The original terminal building and hangars remain, with the hangars still in use today. Over the years, the airport has undergone various renovations and expansions to accommodate increasing air traffic and improve passenger experience.
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The bill to rename the airport was passed by the Ohio General Assembly on May 25, 2016
On May 25, 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill to rename Port Columbus International Airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The bill was signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich on June 14, 2016, with the name change becoming official 90 days later. The airport, located 6 miles east of downtown Columbus, Ohio, is named after John Glenn, an Ohio native, former astronaut, and four-term U.S. senator.
The decision to rename the airport in honour of John Glenn was unanimous, with the airport's nine-member board approving the name change on May 24, 2016. The new name recognises Glenn's pioneering spirit and decades of service to the nation. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962 and later became the oldest person to enter space at the age of 77.
The airport has a rich history dating back to its opening on July 8, 1929, as the Columbus Municipal Hangar. The site was selected by Charles Lindbergh as the eastern terminus of the transcontinental air-rail route connecting New York to Los Angeles. Over the years, the airport underwent expansions and renovations, including the addition of new concourses and jetways.
The renaming of the airport in 2016 is a significant milestone, honouring the legacy of John Glenn and his contributions to aviation and space exploration. The official celebration of the renaming was held on June 28, 2016, with the unveiling of new signage bearing the airport's new name. This marked a new chapter in the history of the airport, recognising the impact of a true American hero.
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The airport's original name was Columbus Municipal Hangar, which opened in 1929
The airport now known as John Glenn Columbus International Airport has had several name changes throughout its history. The airport first opened on July 8, 1929, as the Columbus Municipal Hangar, located in Columbus, Ohio. The site was chosen by Charles Lindbergh as the eastern terminus of the Transcontinental Air Transport air-rail route from New York to Los Angeles.
The original Columbus Municipal Hangar terminal building and hangars remain. While the hangars are still in use, the old terminal building is now derelict. During World War II, the facility was mostly taken over by the U.S. military, and in 1946, the U.S. Navy relinquished control of the airport.
The airport was later renamed Port Columbus, and in 1952, it was expanded to accommodate larger aircraft. By 1953, it was determined that the airport needed to be relocated to a more central location to support future growth. Construction began on a new control tower, and in 1964, Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly around the world solo, taking off from and landing back at Port Columbus.
In 2016, the airport was renamed John Glenn Columbus International Airport in honour of Ohio native, former astronaut, and U.S. senator John Glenn. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962 and later became the oldest person to enter space at age 77. The name change was approved unanimously by the airport's board and signed into law by Ohio Governor John Kasich on June 14, 2016, with a celebration held two weeks later to unveil the new signage.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was renamed on June 14, 2016, when Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the bill into law.
Before it was renamed John Glenn Columbus International Airport, the airport was known as Port Columbus International Airport.
John Glenn was a US senator, astronaut, and the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.
John Glenn's pioneering spirit inspired the renaming of the airport.















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