Corporate travel of the likes of Huntington or M/I would likely be non-existent.  In fact, my last 2 companies specifically discourage it (budget airlines) because fees often add up, lack of cancellation refunds, travel complications with delays or cancelations can impact business operations, and discount airlines don't provide corporate travel rates and/or rebates/rewards programs. Small businesses might but any company with proper corporate travel management isn't likely going to factor in to this. 

Edited November 16, 20222 yr by DTCL11

A big part of this expansion by Sun Country is to take advantage of their position as the official MLS charter for several teams, including the Crew. Instead of repositioning the aircraft to/from their base in MSP empty, they will be sold as revenue flights. 

Chef Avishar Barua, One Line Coffee featured at new Columbus airport lounge
 

 

“John Glenn Columbus International Airport tapped a local chef and local coffee for its newest amenity.

 

The airport's new 2,800-square-foot lounge, dubbed Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner, includes a menu designed by chef Avishar Barua and coffee from the Short North’s One Line Coffee.

 

The lounge also has premium and local beer, spirits and wine, and amenities including high-speed Wi-Fi, activity packs for children and a digital library with more than 7,000 publications from more than 120 countries via PressReader.

 

“We’re pleased to introduce this new amenity for passengers looking for an elevated airport experience,” Joseph Nardone, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, said in a release. “(The lounge) allows passengers to relish the travel experience, to escape to a relaxing space before boarding their flight.”’

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/16/chef-avishar-barua-one-line-coffee-highlight-new.html

23 hours ago, DTCL11 said:

The way this is all strategized is not an effort to get you to Florida. This is entirely banking on twice weekly summer travelers whose final destination is MSP.  It's part of an over announcement of 15 new direct MSP flights across the country.  My guess is Minneapolis governments might also be helping this to boost tourism. 

 

'“We’re excited to welcome travelers from the Columbus area to the Twin Cities via this new, nonstop route,” says Grant Whitney, Chief Revenue Officer at Sun Country. “Minneapolis/St. Paul has lots of great attractions that cater to people of all ages and all interests – including Mall of America, world-class museums, lakes and parks, art galleries, incredible sports, music and entertainment venues, great restaurants, breweries and so much more.”'

Not sure I want to spend my vacation in Minneapolis, Not overly exciting if you ask me. Lakes are still a bit cold for much of the summer (outside july and August). It generally is too cold there most of the year for my liking. Been there in May numerous times and early October and have seen snow.  Summer is nice though, but still would prefer Lake michigan or Cleveland over MSP that time of the year. 

5 hours ago, CMHOhio said:

A big part of this expansion by Sun Country is to take advantage of their position as the official MLS charter for several teams, including the Crew. Instead of repositioning the aircraft to/from their base in MSP empty, they will be sold as revenue flights. 

 

Kind of a brilliant move. I'm assuming there are one or two flight attendants on the Crew charter flights, so these revenue flights won't really require any additional expenses aside from maybe a bit more fuel and fees for the gate space. The break even point to make these flights profitable should be pretty low.

6 hours ago, CMHOhio said:

A big part of this expansion by Sun Country is to take advantage of their position as the official MLS charter for several teams, including the Crew. Instead of repositioning the aircraft to/from their base in MSP empty, they will be sold as revenue flights. 

I cant see that though. The crew play one game a week and it is not always the same day/night of each week (unlike football). The profitability of the low cost carriers are to pretty much have a short turn around and keep the flights in the sky as much as possible. It seems as if an MLS team using Sun Country to travel to Columbus would not allow significant opportunities each year to reposition the flight back to MSP. I just do not see the schedules working out to make it profitable. 

2 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I cant see that though. The crew play one game a week and it is not always the same day/night of each week (unlike football). The profitability of the low cost carriers are to pretty much have a short turn around and keep the flights in the sky as much as possible. It seems as if an MLS team using Sun Country to travel to Columbus would not allow significant opportunities each year to reposition the flight back to MSP. I just do not see the schedules working out to make it profitable. 

Sun Country said that their expansion to about five cities, including Columbus, is related to their MLS charter contract. It’s not speculation, it’s what they actually said. It might not work out, but I’m guessing they did a bit of analytical homework before finalizing this plan. 

3 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

Sun Country said that their expansion to about five cities, including Columbus, is related to their MLS charter contract. It’s not speculation, it’s what they actually said. It might not work out, but I’m guessing they did a bit of analytical homework before finalizing this plan. 

I did not mean to doubt you on this. I do not know their business model, but it just seems like the planes are sitting idle more often than not between MLS games and passenger service.

9 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I did not mean to doubt you on this.

 

Oh, no worries. I was just specifying in case it wasn't already clear.

John Glenn Columbus airport adding 6 nonstop Breeze flights

 

By Carrie Ghose  –  Staff reporter, Columbus Business First

Dec 7, 2022

 

Breeze Airways is adding two new nonstop destinations, including suburban Los Angeles, and resuming four seasonal routes out of John Glenn Columbus International Airport this spring.

 

The low-fare carrier debuted at CMH in summer 2021, shortly after it was launched by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman.

 

"It’s exciting to watch as Breeze Airways continues to invest in Columbus," Joseph Nardone, CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, said in a news release.

 

The new routes not currently served from Columbus are:

 

John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting March 29. (Spirit Airlines flies from CMH to nearby Los Angeles.)

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Thursdays and Sundays, starting May 18.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/07/cmh-breeze-airways-new-returning-destinations.html

Does Breeze already fly to Columbus or are these the first routes?

16 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

Does Breeze already fly to Columbus or are these the first routes?

 

I took a Breeze flight in August 2021.

I'd wish we got that Breeze SFO flight that Louisville has.  Ugh.

31 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

I took a Breeze flight in August 2021.

What cities does Breeze fly too out of Columbus?

Charleston, Hartford, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Orange County, Raleigh/Durham, West Palm Beach and seasonally New Orleans.

7 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

What cities does Breeze fly too out of Columbus?

https://flycolumbus.com/storage/production/20221207103922-sample-flight-schedule-from-columbus-dec-6-breeze-updates.pdf

Six Direct Flights Launching/Relaunching at Columbus Airport in 2023

 

Low-fare airline Breeze Airways confirmed this morning that it will be resuming seasonal service from the John Glenn International Airport next Spring with four returning routes and two new direct flights.

 

The two new routes include:

• Orange County, CA — Starting March 29
• Raleigh-Durham, NC — Starting May 18

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/six-direct-flights-launching-relaunching-at-columbus-airport-in-2023-we1/

 

2 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

I took a Breeze flight in August 2021.

Would you fly Breeze again? How would you compare it to other discount airlines like Frontier, Allegiant, Spirit?

19 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Six Direct Flights Launching/Relaunching at Columbus Airport in 2023

 

Low-fare airline Breeze Airways confirmed this morning that it will be resuming seasonal service from the John Glenn International Airport next Spring with four returning routes and two new direct flights.

 

The two new routes include:

• Orange County, CA — Starting March 29
• Raleigh-Durham, NC — Starting May 18

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/six-direct-flights-launching-relaunching-at-columbus-airport-in-2023-we1/

 

Breeze is really pimping out OC to Cincinnati and Columbus. I guess, I will be shocked if they both succeed. CVG has the daily direct to LAX. I know SNA is south of LAX so I guess there will be some demand for the flight. Surprised with slot restricted SNA that these flights are happening. 

Not really anything special, but CMH did an AMA on Instagram yesterday. 

 

 

The link provided went to the Dec 2022 Pamphlet with the generic stuff. 

 

 

I know it's been brought up before so I've been doing some researching and pondering and am putting it here for when it inevitably comes up again regarding the number of gates planned for the new terminal. 

 

The FAA allows 32 operations per runway per hour. For Columbus, that is 64 operations per hour. untilizing their current operation of 19 hours a day, the airport can technically handle1,216 landing and takeoffs per day.  So Columbus will never have to worry about runway capacity. 

 

On to gates. Currently, with 31 gates, a high end of 90 minutes for turn around per gate, (knowing Southwest and regional jets are 60 minutes or less) that's just under 400 planes. So roughly 200 Arrivals and 200 Departures per day. In reality, current gate capacity is higher than that but it's a safe place to start. 

 

Currently, Columbus sits around 120 Arrivals and 120 Departures a day for commercial Airlines. so there is still plenty of room for growth even within its current number of gates. The issue is and has always been gate space and relief space largely related to having separate concourses. (Again, knowing that areas will always feel full during the peak schedules and feel empty at other times due to blocking. Thats something that is inevitable even with brand new terminals). A plan to grow to 36 gates would allow 443 operations and 40 gates just over 500, well above the current 240ish operations a day.

 

With that, I am not concerned with the number of gates. Columbus doesn't really have a capacity problem. And isn't even particularly close to outgrowing it's current number of gates.  Further, a new streamlined terminal will presumably help improve turn around across the board. Columbus will likely not see itself approach true capacity for many years to come, if in some of our lifetimes. 

 

I think my main curiousity regarding gates is that the airport has so far only specified wanting narrowbody gates and nothing about a widebody gate. Granted, there's alot that needs to happen before anything Transoceanic *might* be on the table but you'd think even just one widebody gate might be included in the plans to help attract any potential widebody routes, domestic or international. It maybe it's just an unspoken given if it's easy to convert an end gate to widebody.

 

As an aside, Gates C48-C51 get used just a couple times a day if that. Why I'd support swapping Delta to A and Southwest to C but it's not going to happen due to the politics of airports. But then again, Columbus feels bursting at the seams in the morning because Soutwesr ships off 6 737s between 5:30 and 7am. Then they only turn around 1 plane per hour in C gates until 11:30, when they use 2 of their 6 gates. 

 

As another side note, Gensler hired the former head of Disney Imagineering to help guide designs across the company. Whether that applies to Columbus will yet to be seen but it does show Gensler is very focused on the user experience.  

 

Anyway.. late night ponderings while we wait. 

Edited January 20, 20232 yr by DTCL11

On 1/20/2023 at 1:32 AM, DTCL11 said:

I know it's been brought up before so I've been doing some researching and pondering and am putting it here for when it inevitably comes up again regarding the number of gates planned for the new terminal. 

 

The FAA allows 32 operations per runway per hour. For Columbus, that is 64 operations per hour. untilizing their current operation of 19 hours a day, the airport can technically handle1,216 landing and takeoffs per day.  So Columbus will never have to worry about runway capacity. 

 

On to gates. Currently, with 31 gates, a high end of 90 minutes for turn around per gate, (knowing Southwest and regional jets are 60 minutes or less) that's just under 400 planes. So roughly 200 Arrivals and 200 Departures per day. In reality, current gate capacity is higher than that but it's a safe place to start. 

 

Currently, Columbus sits around 120 Arrivals and 120 Departures a day for commercial Airlines. so there is still plenty of room for growth even within its current number of gates. The issue is and has always been gate space and relief space largely related to having separate concourses. (Again, knowing that areas will always feel full during the peak schedules and feel empty at other times due to blocking. Thats something that is inevitable even with brand new terminals). A plan to grow to 36 gates would allow 443 operations and 40 gates just over 500, well above the current 240ish operations a day.

 

With that, I am not concerned with the number of gates. Columbus doesn't really have a capacity problem. And isn't even particularly close to outgrowing it's current number of gates.  Further, a new streamlined terminal will presumably help improve turn around across the board. Columbus will likely not see itself approach true capacity for many years to come, if in some of our lifetimes. 

 

I think my main curiousity regarding gates is that the airport has so far only specified wanting narrowbody gates and nothing about a widebody gate. Granted, there's alot that needs to happen before anything Transoceanic *might* be on the table but you'd think even just one widebody gate might be included in the plans to help attract any potential widebody routes, domestic or international. It maybe it's just an unspoken given if it's easy to convert an end gate to widebody.

 

As an aside, Gates C48-C51 get used just a couple times a day if that. Why I'd support swapping Delta to A and Southwest to C but it's not going to happen due to the politics of airports. But then again, Columbus feels bursting at the seams in the morning because Soutwesr ships off 6 737s between 5:30 and 7am. Then they only turn around 1 plane per hour in C gates until 11:30, when they use 2 of their 6 gates. 

 

As another side note, Gensler hired the former head of Disney Imagineering to help guide designs across the company. Whether that applies to Columbus will yet to be seen but it does show Gensler is very focused on the user experience.  

 

Anyway.. late night ponderings while we wait. 

I always thought one of the problems with the current CMH is airlines lease the gates and for the most part won't let any other airline use them. When you have an airline leasing more gates than they use or need, it reduces the number of gates available for another to expand or new airlines to enter the market, thus needing more gates than CMH uses.

John Glenn Columbus International, Rickenbacker airports saw passenger traffic increase in 2022

 

Air traffic through Columbus is continuing to climb toward pre-pandemic levels.

...

John Glenn Columbus International

• June was the peak month in 2022 for CMH, with a high of 692,434 passengers traveling.
• January ranked the lowest at 440,753 passengers.
• Southwest Airlines was the busiest airline in 2022, accounting for 34% of total passengers. Despite holiday challenges, the airline closed out the year with 2.52 million passengers, a 30% increase over the 1.94 million passengers in 2021.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/24/columbus-airports-2022-passenger-increase.html

 

12 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

John Glenn Columbus International, Rickenbacker airports saw passenger traffic increase in 2022

 

Air traffic through Columbus is continuing to climb toward pre-pandemic levels.

...

John Glenn Columbus International

• June was the peak month in 2022 for CMH, with a high of 692,434 passengers traveling.
• January ranked the lowest at 440,753 passengers.
• Southwest Airlines was the busiest airline in 2022, accounting for 34% of total passengers. Despite holiday challenges, the airline closed out the year with 2.52 million passengers, a 30% increase over the 1.94 million passengers in 2021.

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/24/columbus-airports-2022-passenger-increase.html

 

I can't see the article, do we have a total for 2022?

21 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

I can't see the article, do we have a total for 2022?

 

7.46m through CMH and 293k through LCK. So 7.75m combined. For comparison sake, CVG had 7.6m and CLE had 8.7m. 

Edited January 24, 20232 yr by cbussoccer
fix typo

22 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

7.46m through CMH and 293k through LCK. So 7.75m combined. For comparison sake, CVG had 7.6m and CLE had 8.7m. 

If adding LCK to CMH then must add CAK to CLE, no?

2 minutes ago, eyehrtfood said:

If adding LCK to CMH then must add CAK to CLE, no?

 

CMH and LCK are only about 15-20 minutes apart and serve the exact same market. CLE and CAK are nearly an hour apart from each other and serve overlapping markets. For reference, CLE and CAK are only about 10 minutes closer to each other than CMH and CVG are to DAY. 

I hope I'm wrong but I'm beginning to get the feeling the new terminal will be delayed. How long who knows but Genzler's own timeline when they were chosen as the design team said they would have the design by the end of '22 with construction to start about a year later. We're already three months into the new year and crickets from Genzler. For all of you CMH historians this wouldn't be the first time grand plans for expansion were shelved due usually to the economy going south. While recreational air travel from CMH is inching up to precovid levels. business travel is still strongly lagging when compared to other cities of our size. Once again, I hope I'm wrong but I've been down this street before.

55 minutes ago, John7165 said:

I hope I'm wrong but I'm beginning to get the feeling the new terminal will be delayed. How long who knows but Genzler's own timeline when they were chosen as the design team said they would have the design by the end of '22 with construction to start about a year later. We're already three months into the new year and crickets from Genzler. For all of you CMH historians this wouldn't be the first time grand plans for expansion were shelved due usually to the economy going south. While recreational air travel from CMH is inching up to precovid levels. business travel is still strongly lagging when compared to other cities of our size. Once again, I hope I'm wrong but I've been down this street before.

 

I think you are correct.  I expect the same for CLE as well.   I hope we are both wrong.

The board can be so bad about minutes and meetings being timely and throrough so it's hard to tell for sure but the last meeting notes just posted, oddly enough, and Genssler et al has been at the Jan and March meetings. Looks like the March meeting they discussed desired features. 

 

Honestly seems like part of the hold up is CRAAs schedule. They only met 7 times last year. No board meetings between October and January. None in February. 

 

I'm sure that if a proper subcommittee was created to tackle this, ideally with community members as well, it could be moving faster but if Gennsler is coming to every meeting and brainstorming there, then it's an issue on our end. 

Breeze Airways launches new nonstop flight from Columbus to California

 

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/breeze-airways-launches-nonstop-flight-from-columbus-to-california/530-eb98f419-a5f9-4928-ac55-c0be108e68db

5 hours ago, Pablo said:

Breeze Airways launches new nonstop flight from Columbus to California

 

https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/breeze-airways-launches-nonstop-flight-from-columbus-to-california/530-eb98f419-a5f9-4928-ac55-c0be108e68db

To me what's even more exciting about the Breeze flight is we add a brand destination as this flight goes to John Wayne in Orange Co. I can't recall a flight to SNA from CMH. So great news all the way around. Hopefully this is a huge success and Breeze ups the frequency to daily.

John Wayne to John Glenn. It was destined to be. 

Well, I suppose it's better that than flying John Glenn to John F. Kennedy, waiting an hour, then flying to John Wayne while flying over Johnstown, PA.

Breeze Airways adding three southeastern destinations from Columbus

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/05/18/breeze-airways-adds-additional-routes-from-john-glenn-international-airport/70231825007/?fbclid=IwAR3e-6l6Adyby32IKQMCvrCfD5G8odZtEzZhYSCpyE8IyhReUHKs-C_S5-4

 

Beginning Thursday, Breeze Airways, is offering non-stop flights from Columbus to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., with summer seasonal service to Norfolk, Va. and Jacksonville, Fla. The fares range from $55 to $73 one way.

The Raleigh-Durham route is 2 to 4 times a week. The Jacksonville seasonal route begins May 19, on Mondays and Fridays and starts at $73 one way; BreezeThru service is Thursdays and Sundays. BreezeThru is one-stop, direct service on routes that continue to their destination. The Norfolk summer seasonal route is Mondays and Fridays beginning May 26 with rates starting at $65.

CRAA agenda minutes are out for May. it looks like the design for the new terminal is still in progress albeit at a turtles pace but have been shared with some local groups for input. No word on when the design will be released to the public (rats). Some of the timelines were a bit confusing at least to me but the next board meeting after May will be in June. Let's hope we get good news soon. In other news, passenger traffic is rebounding from covid and is approaching 2019 levels with the traffic count being in the mid 90's percent. CMH is planning for a large late spring and summer so maybe we can finally put 2019 in the rear view mirror and set a new record. The relocation of taxiway C will soon be starting so that's good news. Let's hope the terminal design is really breathtaking and something we can all be proud of for decades and make Columbus standout versus our peer cities.

Was just out at the Airport around 1:30p yesterday and saw 2 or 3 rigs drilling in the area where the new terminal is supposed to be. Should serve as a good sign that things continue to progress.

Breeze Airways adds service from Columbus to Fort Myers, Florida

 

Breeze Airways is adding new winter and spring seasonal flights between Columbus and Fort Myers, Florida.

 

The route from John Glenn Columbus International Airport to Fort Myers will begin Nov. 16, with flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Fares begin at $59 one-way if purchased by July 24.

 

“Breeze Airways’ new service to Fort Myers is a welcome addition at John Glenn International, where flights to Florida are always in high demand,” Columbus Regional Airport Authority CEO Joseph Nardone said in a release. “We are excited to see Breeze’s continued growth as our passengers gain a connection to Fort Myers, a top ten destination for Columbus travelers.”

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/18/breeze-airways-columbus-fort-meyers-florida.html & https://columbusunderground.com/breeze-airways-adds-new-non-stop-service-to-fort-myers-florida-ae1/

 

I was trying to find it on the development page so feel free to move this if needed.

 

The preliminary bids are out to get numbers for the new terminal project. Can’t say much more than that but it’s out there.

22 hours ago, wpcc88 said:

I was trying to find it on the development page so feel free to move this if needed.

 

The preliminary bids are out to get numbers for the new terminal project. Can’t say much more than that but it’s out there.

What does this mean? Is the final design set and now they're seeking construction costs from qualified companies? 

5 hours ago, John7165 said:

What does this mean? Is the final design set and now they're seeking construction costs from qualified companies? 

Final design is not set in stone, I can’t really reveal the other part as I’m not sure if it could be considered sensitive. Certain systems have been sent out for bids for costs and budgeting purposes.

13 hours ago, wpcc88 said:

Final design is not set in stone, I can’t really reveal the other part as I’m not sure if it could be considered sensitive. Certain systems have been sent out for bids for costs and budgeting purposes.

 

Do you know if the Intel announcement caused them to alter any plans/designs? Just wondering if that announcement caused them re-calc their PAX projections and possibly alter some of the plans for the new terminal. 

51 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Do you know if the Intel announcement caused them to alter any plans/designs? Just wondering if that announcement caused them re-calc their PAX projections and possibly alter some of the plans for the new terminal. 

I can’t speak to that unfortunately.

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/08/10/john-glenn-columbus-terminal.html

 

Quote

The new terminal would have one large concourse with 36 gates – seven more than the current one. Once through security, everything would be available to every passenger.

“People could be sitting not only right near the glass (windows), but you could be sitting here having a nice tea or beer 15 to 20 minutes before your flight is ready to board, and you can be sitting here watching it,” said Tom McCarthy, the authority’s chief planning and engineering officer.

“The design of the building will kind of give us a lot of flex.”

 

 

 

Exclusive: Airport authorities share plans for new, $2 billion terminal at John Glenn Columbus International - Columbus Business First (bizjournals.com)https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/08/10/john-glenn-columbus-terminal.html

Internal rendering:

 

 

Having everything in one concourse will be so much better and should help provide better vendor options.

It will be interesting the reaction of the public and government officials in Columbus as to "the need" and "the cost" - versus the same in Cleveland when the Cleveland new terminal is officially rolled out to all with plans and cost.

 

Guess: Columbus will say "we need a world class airport at any cost" and Cleveland will say "how much? Flying is for the rich... What a waste...  What about money for our neighborhoods instead...? 

 

(I live in CLE)

1 hour ago, eyehrtfood said:

It will be interesting the reaction of the public and government officials in Columbus as to "the need" and "the cost" - versus the same in Cleveland when the Cleveland new terminal is officially rolled out to all with plans and cost.

 

Guess: Columbus will say "we need a world class airport at any cost" and Cleveland will say "how much? Flying is for the rich... What a waste...  What about money for our neighborhoods instead...? 

 

(I live in CLE)

Make no mistake the business community wants this and is demanding it. The is a ton of private money being diverted to the communities. Do we need more? Yes, but everyone does.

My biggest interest is in the long term. Show me their intended expansions. Even if they are 20 years down the road or more, I want to know that all they have to do is plug and play when it comes time. 

 

I also wouldn't mind another 5 ft on those ceilings. Tall ceilings make all the difference in the world. 

Where are the ground side facilities, ie ticketing and baggage claim relat8ve to the curved buildimg?