
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (IATA: CVG, ICAO: KCVG, FAA LID: CVG) is a public international airport located in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. The airport's code, CVG, is derived from Covington, Kentucky, the nearest city when the airport opened. The airport is currently the 6th busiest airport in the United States by cargo traffic and 12th largest in the world. It is the fastest-growing cargo airport in North America and offers nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport |
| Airport Code | CVG |
| Airport Code Derivation | Nearest city at the time of opening: Covington, Kentucky |
| Location | Boone County, Kentucky, US |
| Area | 7,000 acres (10.9 sq mi; 28.3 km2) |
| Destinations | 50+ |
| Cargo Hub Ranking in North America | 6th largest |
| Annual Economic Impact | $6.8 billion |
| Cargo Hub for | Amazon Air, Atlas Air, ABX Air, Kalitta Air, and DHL Aviation |
| Traffic Ranking in the US | 6th busiest by cargo traffic |
| Traffic Ranking Worldwide | 12th largest |
| Growth Rate in North America | Fastest-growing cargo airport |
| Notable Events | Arrival of jet age in 1960; establishment of Comair in 1977; Delta hub expansion in the 1980s and 1990s |
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What You'll Learn
- The airport code CVG is derived from Covington, Kentucky, the nearest city when the airport opened
- CVG is the 6th busiest airport in the US by cargo traffic and 12th in the world
- The airport's first scheduled jet flight landed in 1960, marking the arrival of the jet age in Cincinnati
- Delta opened a hub at the airport in the mid-1980s, constructing Terminals C and D with 22 gates
- CVG was featured in the film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise

The airport code CVG is derived from Covington, Kentucky, the nearest city when the airport opened
The airport code for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is CVG. The airport is located in Boone County, Kentucky, and serves the Cincinnati tri-state area. When the airport opened, the nearest city was Covington, Kentucky, from which the airport code CVG is derived.
The airport is currently the sixth busiest airport in the United States by cargo traffic and the twelfth largest in the world. It is also the fastest-growing cargo airport in North America. The airport covers an area of 7,000 acres and offers nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe. It is a major cargo hub for Amazon Air, Atlas Air, ABX Air, Kalitta Air, and DHL Aviation.
The history of the airport dates back to World War II when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration approved funds for site development on February 11, 1942. The airport was originally known as the Greater Cincinnati Airport and was part of the United States Army Air Corps program to establish training facilities. At that time, air traffic in the area centred on Lunken Airport, located in the Ohio River Valley. However, Lunken Airport experienced frequent fog, and its runways and terminal building were submerged during the 1937 flood.
As Cincinnati officials pushed to develop Lunken into the region's main airport, officials from neighbouring Kentucky counties lobbied Congress for an alternative site. The airport has undergone significant expansion and renovation over the years, including the construction of Terminals C and D by Delta in the mid-1980s and the establishment of Comair in 1977. The airport has also been featured in popular culture, with a walkway to one of its terminals appearing in the film "Rain Man."
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CVG is the 6th busiest airport in the US by cargo traffic and 12th in the world
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, also known as CVG Airport, is a major cargo hub in the United States and worldwide. Located in Boone County, Kentucky, the airport covers 7,000 acres of land and serves the Cincinnati tri-state area.
CVG Airport is a critical cargo gateway, handling numerous domestic and international cargo flights daily. Its cargo operations are significant, with the airport serving as a global cargo hub for prominent companies such as Amazon Air, Atlas Air, ABX Air, Kalitta Air, and DHL Aviation. This has contributed to its ranking as the 6th busiest airport in the US by cargo traffic.
The airport's efficient cargo management and strategic location have attracted major companies, contributing to its status as a leading cargo hub. Additionally, the airport has undergone expansions and improvements over the years, including the establishment of Comair in 1977, which filled the gap left by the anticipated loss of flights due to the Airline Deregulation Act.
The airport's cargo traffic has experienced remarkable growth, solidifying its position as the 6th busiest in the US. This achievement is even more impressive considering the presence of larger airports in the country. CVG Airport's cargo traffic has outpaced many other airports, showcasing its efficiency and appeal to cargo carriers.
Furthermore, the airport's global reach extends beyond North America, offering nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe. This international presence, combined with its robust cargo operations, has propelled CVG Airport to the 12th busiest airport in the world by cargo traffic.
The airport's code, CVG, is derived from Covington, Kentucky, the nearest city when the airport first opened. This code has become synonymous with efficient cargo handling and a broad reach of cargo destinations, solidifying CVG Airport's reputation as a leading cargo hub in the aviation industry.
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The airport's first scheduled jet flight landed in 1960, marking the arrival of the jet age in Cincinnati
The arrival of the first scheduled jet flight in Cincinnati was a significant milestone, marking the beginning of the jet age in the city. On December 16, 1960, a Delta Air Lines Convair 880 from Miami touched down, ushering in a new era of air travel for the region. This event highlighted the need for expansion and modernisation at the airport, which had previously experienced issues with fog and flooding.
The airport, officially known as the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, serves the Cincinnati tri-state area and is located in Boone County, Kentucky, near the community of Hebron. Its code, CVG, is derived from Covington, Kentucky, the nearest city when the airport opened.
The airport has a long history dating back to World War II. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration approved funds for the site's development as part of the United States Army Air Corps program to establish training facilities. However, the region's air traffic was initially centred on Lunken Airport, which was prone to fog and flooding, with a notable incident in 1937 when its runways and terminal building were submerged.
The arrival of jet aircraft highlighted the need for improvements, with the original Terminal A undergoing expansion and renovation. The north-south runway was extended from 3,100 to 8,600 feet, and subsequent expansions in the 1960s and 1970s further enhanced the airport's capabilities. The airport has continued to expand and develop over the years, with Delta establishing a hub in the 1980s and constructing new terminals. Today, it is a busy international airport, offering nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations and serving as a significant cargo hub.
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Delta opened a hub at the airport in the mid-1980s, constructing Terminals C and D with 22 gates
In the mid-1980s, Delta established a hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which involved the construction of Terminals C and D, adding 22 gates to the airport's capacity. This development was a significant milestone in the airport's history and marked the beginning of a period of substantial growth for Delta at CVG.
Prior to Delta's arrival, the airport had already been expanding its infrastructure. In 1964, a $12 million bond was approved to expand the south concourse of the original Terminal A by 32,000 square feet and provide nine gates for TWA, American, and Delta. A new east-west runway was constructed in 1971, and by 1977, the airport was anticipating the loss of numerous flights due to the impending Airline Deregulation Act. This created an opportunity for the establishment of Comair, which was founded by Patrick Sowers, Robert Tranter, and David and Raymound Mueller.
Delta's decision to establish a hub at the airport in the mid-1980s further bolstered its position as a growing aviation hub. The construction of Terminals C and D provided much-needed additional capacity, allowing Delta to expand its operations at the airport. Over the following decade, Delta ramped up both its mainline and Comair operations and established Delta Connection.
The success of Delta's operations at CVG prompted the company to invest further in the airport's infrastructure. In the 1990s, Delta spent $550 million to build its own terminal facility, known as Terminal 3, which opened in 1994. This new terminal largely replaced Terminal D, with most of its gate space being repurposed into Terminal 3's Concourse A. In addition, two new parallel concourses, Concourses B and C, were constructed and connected to Terminal 3's main building by an underground walkway.
The expansion of Delta's presence at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport transformed it into a significant aviation hub for the region. With Delta's continued growth and investment in the airport, it solidified its position as a key player in the airport's operations and contributed to its standing as a busy and important airport in North America.
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CVG was featured in the film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, also known as CVG, was featured in the 1988 film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. Rain Man is a road comedy-drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. The film tells the story of Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise), a selfish wheeler-dealer who discovers that his estranged father has died and left his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond (played by Dustin Hoffman), an autistic savant.
Several scenes in Rain Man were filmed in the Greater Cincinnati area, including at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). The airport scenes were shot at CVG's Terminal 2, which is now closed to the public. In one scene, Hoffman's character, Raymond, sits under artist Winold Reiss' mural "American Laundry Machinery." This mural was rescued when a portion of the Cincinnati Union Terminal was demolished and was later installed at CVG, where it remains today.
In addition to the airport scenes, other locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky were featured in the film. These include St. Anne Convent in Melbourne, Kentucky, which served as the backdrop for the Wallbrook mental institution where Raymond lived, and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. A driving scene was filmed along Columbia Parkway, and another scene was shot at Pompilio's Italian Restaurant in Newport, Kentucky.
The inclusion of these locations in Rain Man helped to promote and build the local film community in the Greater Cincinnati area. The film also shone a spotlight on the region, showcasing the beauty of locations like Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky, where the funeral scene was filmed.
Overall, Rain Man's depiction of CVG and other locations in the Cincinnati area contributed to the film's success and left a lasting impact on both the film industry and the local community.
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Frequently asked questions
CVG stands for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The airport's code, CVG, is derived from the nearest city at the time of the airport's opening, Covington, Kentucky.
The airport is currently the 6th busiest airport in the US by cargo traffic and 12th largest in the world. It is also the fastest-growing cargo airport in North America.
The airport covers an area of 7,000 acres (10.9 sq mi; 28.3 km2) and offers nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe. The airport is also featured in the film Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.











































