From 11/24/04 Columbus Business First:

 

Port Columbus posts 10.3 increase in traffic

 

Port Columbus International Airport reported a fourth straight month of increasing passenger traffic in October, with ridership up 10.3 percent.

 

The airport served 558,099 passengers in October, up from 505,959 last October. Some 5.2 million passengers used Port Columbus in the first 10 months of the year, down 2.3 percent from 5.3 million in the first 10 months of 2003.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2004/11/22/daily18.html

It's great to see passenger numbers rebounding after America West's closure of the Columbus hub. There's still a lot of work to be done though, as Columbus' only nonstop to Los Angeles was severed with the closing of the hub. The airport has been working vigorously to get the service back, as well as continue adding new flights. Actually, an article regarding Columbus' attempt to land nonstop service across the pond was featured in the Dispatch after the Business First article was printed. Quite frankly, Columbus doesn't really stand a chance in getting nonstop service to Europe, especially with no connecting traffic and a large majority of Columbus companies using private aircraft for transatlantic travel. I still applaud airport officials for taking the chance and establishing a relationship early with international carriers though:

 

PORT COLUMBUS

International airlines courted

 

By Tom Matthews THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Port Columbus International Airport wants to live up to its name.

  Airport officials are courting European airlines in hopes of luring nonstop international service. Currently, fliers can get international service from Columbus only through connecting flights.

  "The options already are tremendous,’’ said David Whitaker, the airport’s vice president of business development. "There is no hardship or difficulty in getting to any point in Europe. It’s just not nonstop. What is ideal is nonstop service.’’

From Columbus Business First, 8/12/05:

 

Republic confirms Port Columbus expansion

 

Republic Airways Holdings on Thursday confirmed plans to expand to a larger maintenance facility at Port Columbus International Airport, a project that is expected to add 38 maintenance workers.

 

The Indianapolis-based airline will increase its facility to 144,000 square feet, from 80,000 square feet. As reported in Business First in May, the project will allow Republic Airways to add 38 maintenance jobs to its 277-member maintenance force. Republic also plans to base 30 pilots and 30 flight attendants in Columbus.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/08/08/daily32.html?from_rss=1

 

From Columbus Business First, 9/28/05:

 

Port Columbus logs passenger increase

 

Passenger traffic at Port Columbus International Airport jumped 5.7 percent in August and is up 7.3 percent for the year.

 

Port Columbus hosted 580,110 passengers in August, compared with 548,997 in August 2004, according to the airport's governing body, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/09/26/daily19.html?from_rss=1

 

It's too bad they can't get a better carrier to serve Rickenbacker.  It's actually a great airport to fly out of and the terminal is very easy to navigate, as well as close to the parking lot.  The only steady carrier they've had has been Hooters Air (gee, I wonder why?), but they have limited flights. 

 

By contrast, the Airport Authority has done a great job with Port Columbus.  It is a far better airport than it once was.  Kudos to Director Elaine Roberts for that.  She is a very sharp manager.  She also wants to bring train service into Port Columbus, both local light rail and an intercity passenger rail connection.  She actually worked with such a connection at her previous job in Providence, Rhode Island, where the airport has Amtrak's Northeast Corridor literally at it's doorstep.

As previously mention, Rickenbacker has had no problem garnering a strong following. Where the problem lies is finding a stable enough carrier to maintain service at the terminal. For those that don't know, Rickenbacker serves as an alternate commercial airport to Port Columbus, specializing in charter and scheduled-charter air service. Hooters will be expanding service this month from Rickenbacker, adding service to St. Petersburg, FL in addition to their current service to Gary, IN and Myrtle Beach, SC. Pan Am Clipper Connection, a scheduled-charter carrier riddled with all sorts of problems, also "flies" into Rickenbacker, however service systemwide has been shut down until November, when the carrier will resume service again. We'll see for how long.

 

Port Columbus has recovered well in terms of passenger numbers since America West closed its Columbus hub, however growth overall in terms of new flights and destinations has been stangant for the most part. Ms. Roberts has done a great job managing the airport authority, but air service from Columbus is still lacking, especially in comparison to similar sized cities/airports such as Indianapolis and Raliegh/Durham. A rail connection in any way would certainly help all parties involved, and is part of Port Columbus' master plan. A multi-modal  cargo facility is already under construction at Rickenbacker, hopefully eventually we'll see the same at Port Columbus for passengers.

From Business First of Columbus, 10/26/05:

 

 

Port Columbus reports September record

 

Port Columbus International Airport just finished its busiest September on record, said the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Port Columbus' governing body.

 

Port Columbus hosted 547,675 passengers in September, a 9.8 percent increase over 498,937 in September 2004, the authority said Tuesday. So far this year 5 million passengers used Port Columbus, up 7.5 percent from 4.6 million in the first nine months of 2004.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/10/24/daily20.html?from_rss=1

 

Business First of Columbus - 2:39 PM EST Wednesday

Port Columbus, Rickenbacker report busy Octobers

 

Port Columbus International Airport had a 1.2 percent increase in passenger counts in October, while Rickenbacker International Airport saw a 19 percent increase in cargo traffic.

 

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which oversees both airports and Bolton Field, released the numbers Wednesday.

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/11/21/daily23.html?jst=b_ln_hl

 

Business First of Columbus - 8:46 AM EST Wednesday

Port Columbus, Rickenbacker close out year of gains

Brian Ball

Business First

 

A surge of passengers flying Southwest Airlines and US Airways out of Port Columbus International Airport in 2005 helped the airport report record traffic last year.

 

Full story: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/01/30/daily14.html 

And with the new construction at Rickenbacker, things will only get better  :-)

Good news overall for Columbus' two main commercial airports. Here's hoping that the passenger trend at CMH can continue and that they get someone to fill in the void left by Independence Air.

 

Over at LCK, the increased cargo traffic is definitely a great sign, especially with all the new construction that is going on in that area. Once the intermodal facility is complete, hopefully more companies will decide to bring freight through the airport. The prospects of a cargo hub at the airport are nil, however LCK could definitely position itself as a gateway for international cargo traffic, especially as a Foreign Trade Zone. Large international companies such as CargoLux, NWA Cargo, and Air China could be future candidates for flights into LCK. Here's hoping.

Service to fly veterans from Columbus to WWII memorial free

The Columbus Dispatch

Thursday, February 9, 2006 12:02 PM

 

Honor Flight, the nonprofit Ohio organization that flies World War II veterans to the national memorial in their honor, is coming to Columbus.

Earl Morse, a retired Air Force captain and Honor Flight founder, said he will launch a "Guardian Honor Flight" from Port Columbus on June 24. Since the organization's inception last year, it has used a squadron of small aircraft whose pilots donate their time to fly the veterans for free.

 

But the flight from Columbus will be a commercial plane, allowing at least 40 veterans to fly for free. In addition, nearly 20 people can purchase seats and go along as guardians to assist the veterans.

 

The group will fly to Washington, D.C., and spend the day on guided tours of the memorials, including the National WWII Memorial that opened in 2004.

 

Morse also has planned an April 4 flight for his for-profit company, Veteran Tour Services, to make the same trip from Columbus. Fifty-one seats are available for purchase on that flight, but donors have made it possible that some veterans will be able to go for free, Morse said.

 

A meeting about both opportunities is set for tonight at 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 532, 1571 Demorest Road.

 

 

http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=165303

Upgrades may ease travel at airport

Projects to include new interchange, additional terminal

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Tim Doulin

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Driving to Port Columbus should get a little quicker when the state eliminates the intersection of Stelzer Road and International Gateway and builds an interchange in two years.

 

Full story: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/15/20060215-A1-01.html

 

Wow.  Go Port Columbus!!!

Interesting to note that the current airport manager also wants to see a light rail connection to the airport as well, running it right down the center of International Gateway.  The frustration is that COTA can't get off it's collective posterior to even get the North Corridor built, much less an airport link.

 

If the Ohio Rail Development Commission's Ohio Hub Plan moves forward, you could very well see an intercity passenger rail link at Port Columbus, althought that may be an engineering challenge.

Light rail is indeed in the airport's master plan, which can be found at:

 

http://www.port-columbus.com/about/m_plan_future.asp

 

There are several PDF files showing planned layouts and renderings of the airport over the next 12 years. Lots of glass and water.

 

I saw those today for the first time!  I love the new look of the proposed terminal.  I am just kinda bummed that it is going to take so long for it to arrive.  But I guess 2018 will be around sooner than i think.  I am surprised though that they are going to get rid of the current terminal building, after all the improvements they have made to it I would think they would save it. 

More international flights sought

Port Columbus officials working to make overseas travel easier

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Parlez-vous Port Columbus?  Airport officials this week are making their yearly trip to Europe to try to persuade international airlines to make overseas travel from Columbus easier.  They will meet with Air France/KLM, British Airways and Lufthansa, offering loads of statistics showing that central Ohio should be one of the chosen few markets they enter next.  "It’s very competitive," said David Whitaker, vice president of business development for the airport.  "There are very few opportunities because of the state of the airline business right now, and there is obviously a lot of cost associated with going into a brand new market." 

 

Easy international air access to and from a city has become a hotly sought-after prize among cities trying to attract businesses and conventions.  While an airport with a respectable number of flights to major U.S. cities once was adequate, the growing importance of international business has put pressure on cities such as Columbus, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh to attract nonstop international service.

 

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/05/20060705-D1-00.html

 

As a sidenote, this is exactly what I alluded to in the topic concerning international air service from Cleveland. Any good air service development team will seek out all avenues in recruiting new and expanded air service to an airport. The likelihood of Columbus seeing nonstop flights by either of the three carriers mentioned is slim to none (actually more like none at all). However, getting Columbus' name out and aiming high can yield results later in time or spark interest by other parties. It's a chance to network and find out exactly what these airlines are looking for in a potential new city. It also gets the word out on the opportunities available from a city that these airlines might have otherwise never known about. While I don't expect a nonstop to Paris anytime soon, hopefully the airport's tireless work to secure new service does yield positive results in the near future.

I cant see Columbus getting international flights because it is not a hub airport. Even Cleveland is a hub and they have very limited service (Do they still have international flights?). All of the International carriers in cinci are because of the Delta hub. With Delta being the largest carrier out of Columbus, I would think that if they were going to add international flights out of Ohio, they would add them out of cinci since it is a larger airport and offers more oppotunities for feeder flights.

^ Agreed.  Nobody wants to fly to another country and have to take two more flights to get to thier final destination.

Cincy takes the cake on international travel in our region.

Even Cleveland is a hub and they have very limited service (Do they still have international flights?). All of the International carriers in cinci are because of the Delta hub. With Delta being the largest carrier out of Columbus, I would think that if they were going to add international flights out of Ohio, they would add them out of cinci since it is a larger airport and offers more oppotunities for feeder flights.

 

Yes.  IIRC, continental doesn't want to build up too much at Cleveland for fear of canibalizing the EWR TATL operations.  However, Cinci is under the microscope now as Delta has a strong reinvestment in its JFK operations.  A few people I have spoken with say, that Delta will say they have to decrease international flights from Cinci as the equipement is needed for flights from JFK

^I'm pretty sure the rumor mill said that Cincinnati wil be ADDING an international flight to CVG.

Cincy takes the cake on international travel in our region.

 

If by region you mean the Tri-State, then yes. Chicago by far reigns supreme as far as international traffic goes in the Midwest/Great Lakes region, followed by Detroit, which has quite an impressive line-up of international carriers (BA, LH, RJ, AF, etc) as well as a plethora of nonstops offered by Northwest.

 

However, Cinci is under the microscope now as Delta has a strong reinvestment in its JFK operations.  A few people I have spoken with say, that Delta will say they have to decrease international flights from Cinci as the equipement is needed for flights from JFK

 

CVG has definitely taken a backseat to JFK recently, but a pulldown of international service from Delta's second largest hub isn't likely at all. The equipment for Delta's international expansion is being supported by redeploying domestic 767-300/400 aircraft to these new routes, so CVG won't face any route cuts due to aircraft availability. A new transatlantic route from CVG probably isn't very likely, just because Delta already serves most major European markets from the airport. My guess is that if any international expansion happens in CVG, it will likely be to Caribbean, Mexican, or South American destinations.

What does CVG stand for?

CVG is the IATA (International Air Transport Association) 3-letter identifier for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The letters come from the City of CoVinGton, the largest city in Kenton County, where the airport is located.

Thanks. I figured the C was for Cincy and I couldn't figure out the rest.

 

How about BNA? I lived in Nashville for a while (thank God I'm out of there!) and I never figured that one out.

Thanks. I figured the C was for Cincy and I couldn't figure out the rest.

 

How about BNA? I lived in Nashville for a while (thank God I'm out of there!) and I never figured that one out.

 

The three letter identifier, BNA, stands for Berry Field NAshville.  Wimwar...I know you love NashVegas...BTW...Ms. Pearl would like her hat back!

 

 

What does CMH stand for  :?

The CMH designator came from the original airport. The code stands for Columbus Metropolitan Hangar.

You are wise beyond your years CMH_Downtown, thanks. :)

 

We really must have been a cowtown back then if our airport was just a single hangar.

You are wise beyond your years CMH_Downtown, thanks. :)

 

We really must have been a cowtown back then if our airport was just a single hangar.

 

I've seen photos of the old, old airport (I think it was ODOT's website of all places). It was 2 steps above Kitty Hawk.  But that was true for 90% of all airports prior to the Great Depression.

 

Edit.

Here's a link to the photo I was thinking of;

http://www.odotonline.org/photoArchive/PhotoArchiveImages/Large/columbusairpt.jpg

Supposedly the photo was taken in 1947 and the description is Columbus Airport.  Knowing ODOT's incompetence concerning properly identifying what they have in their archive, this could at best be Bolton Field, at worse a random lumber yard.  :|

JetBlue bound for Port Columbus

Budget carrier expected to be competitive when Boston, New York nonstop flights start in October

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Columbus travelers soon will have a new low-cost option for flying to the East Coast.

 

More: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/13/20060713-A1-02.html

 

 

Is this the first JetBlue service in the entire Midwest?  (I didn't read the article CMH posted so I dunno).

Sweet. Everything about JetBlue is cool. Their culture. Their product. Everything. And now, with service from Columbus to the coast, I can be even more depressed about how little travelling I do anymore. Anyway, sweet!

yeah wow great news, that's a grand slam. jb is the best and hipsterist low cost airline. great prices and they totally market toward the so-called young, creative class.

 

you should see the ads they plaster the ny subways with lately. supercool eye catching graphics.

Relocating runway in plans

Port Columbus expansion could force some to move

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Tim Doulin

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Darrell Dews and Port Columbus have been neighbors for more than 25 years.

 

When the jets became too loud, the airport replaced Dews’ windows and insulated his attic to help soundproof his E. 13 th Avenue house. It also bought him air conditioning so he could keep his windows closed.

 

Full Story: http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/16/20060716-C1-03.html

Dining on the fly

Port Columbus will offer greater variety of food options by end of 2007

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Barnet D . Wolf

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

If Ellen Shevlin’s flight hadn’t been canceled three times Thursday morning, she and her fellow workers wouldn’t have been dining at the Max & Erma’s near Port Columbus’ Concourse B.

 

Full Story: http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/25/20060725-B1-01.html

 

Those are beautiful plans. I especially like the new terminal with international gates....very BWI-esque. The current airport is way too small for a market of Columbus's size. I see there are eminent domain issues though, hopefully you wont get a couple people hell-bent on staying in there in order to max out the value of their property like what's happening with Cleveland's expansion. Maybe CAL will move to CMH in 10 years? Very nice, indeed.

If they expand to the south, they are just bumping into industry (and railroads)

If they expand to the north, there are still a smattering of houses along the southside of I-270 from Johnstown Rd to Hamilton (including the now almost wiped out subdivision of Wonderland).

If they expand to the south, they are just bumping into industry (and railroads)

If they expand to the north, there are still a smattering of houses along the southside of I-270 from Johnstown Rd to Hamilton (including the now almost wiped out subdivision of Wonderland).

 

The problem isn't that the planned expansion will increase the amount of property the airport owns, rather the relocated runway will put the new approach path over several existing homes. The relocated path would and the homes' proximity to the runway would create an environment unsuitable for living. I believe the homes in question lie directly east of the airport.

American, United, and Southwest Add Flights from Port Columbus this Fall:

 

American Eagle to Begin Service Between Raleigh/Durham and Columbus, Ohio

Monday June 12, 12:18 pm ET

 

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, a founding member of the global oneworld(SM) Alliance, will add nonstop service between Raleigh/Durham International Airport and Port Columbus International Airport, beginning Sept. 6, 2006. American Eagle will operate two daily round-trip flights between the two cities, using 37-seat Embraer 135 regional jet aircraft.

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060612/dam033.html?.v=56

 

United Airlines Boosts Washington Dulles Service by 13 Percent, Strengthens Commitment to Key Hub

Thursday August 17, 9:59 am ET

 

United also will increase frequencies to cities already served from Washington Dulles, including Albany, N.Y.; Hartford, Conn.; Columbia, S.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Newark, N.J.; Greenville, S.C.; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; New York-JFK; New York-La Guardia; Orlando, Fla.; Providence, R.I.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Rochester, N.Y.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla.; and Knoxville, Tenn.

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060817/cgth025.html?.v=71

 

Southwest Airlines Adds Flights at Dallas Love Field and New Orleans

Thursday August 17, 11:03 am ET

Southwest Airlines Also Adds New Flights in Tampa Bay, Albany, and Reno/Lake Tahoe

 

DALLAS, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV - News) is answering Customers' demand for travel with additional flights at Dallas Love Field and New Orleans, and with new service between Reno/Lake Tahoe and Chicago Midway and between Tampa Bay and Albany. Southwest Airlines is expanding its route network and adding new flights in several other key Southwest cities. To take advantage of these new Southwest Airlines flights visit: http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_NS_081706 .

 

Beginning Nov. 20, 2006

  * One additional daily nonstop flight between Columbus, Ohio, and

Orlando (for a total of two daily).

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060817/dath012.html?.v=67

 

This is in addition to jetBlue's recently announced new service to JFK and BOS, as well as several airlines, including Northwest, USAirways, and United upgrading flights to larger aircraft. If everything stays the same, CMH will offer over 180 departures every day. Not bad for a non-hub airport.

From the 9/2/06 Dispatch:

 

 

GRAPHIC: Port Columbus activity

 

Port Columbus flights decline

Airlines’ cuts not as bad here as other parts of country

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Flights are declining at Port Columbus, mirroring a national trend that has airlines cutting back to save money.

 

Full Story: http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/02/20060902-C1-01.html

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/09/04/daily33.html 

 

American Eagle debuts service to Raleigh/Durham

Business First of Columbus - September 8, 2006

 

American Eagle Airlines Inc. began service Thursday between Columbus and Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

 

The two daily round trips are operated on 37-seat Embraer 135 regional jets. No other airline offers flights between Raleigh and Columbus.

 

More at link above

Ralleigh AND Durham?

 

Shoot...

Along with the new RDU service, American also upgraded an Eagle flight to mainline equipment on the DFW route. So really Eagle flies 24 daily flights from Port Columbus. American Connection runs 3 daily flights, and American mainline runs 4 daily flights, for a total of 31 daily flights by American to 7 cities (ORD, DFW, STL, BOS, LGA, RDU, and MIA).

^But nothing to BTR nor MSY?

If Columbus were to secure nonstop service to Louisiana, it wouldn't be through American, as their presence on either side isn't large enough to warrant nonstop service. Columbus would never see nonstop to BTR, since there isn't enough traffic to support a nonstop without being a hub city. A flight or two to New Orleans could definitely have worked prior to Katrina. If an airline would make a go at that route, I'd look at either Southwest or Delta, since both have sizable operations out of MSY and CMH.

Columbus Goes Wild for JetBlue: Now Connecting Ohioans to New York City

Tuesday October 3, 10:30 am ET

Low-Fare Carrier Announces Daily Nonstop Service to Boston Beginning October 18

 

 

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU - News) today launches non-stop service between Columbus, OH and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with famed Ohioan Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and several of his adored zoo animals presiding over the celebration at Port Columbus International Airport. The addition of four daily flights from Columbus to New York marks the carrier's 47th destination. JetBlue continues its expansion in Columbus on October 18 with the addition of daily nonstop service to Boston. The airline is currently offering a special $39(a) fare each way between Columbus and New York or Boston. Regular one-way fares will range between $89(a) and $199(a), up to 69 percent lower than pre-JetBlue fares.

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/061003/106147.html