History

From New York to the West coast, Port Columbus became an important stop on the first transcontinental air/rail service. At 7:30 a.m. on July 8, 1929, thousands of people watched as passengers arrived at the Columbus railroad station across from the Fifth Avenue, Port Columbus terminal where two Ford Tri-Motor aircraft await the inaugural flight. By 8:17 a.m. 19 passengers, including famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart, took off aboard the aircraft bound for Oklahoma, the next stop on the transcontinental journey. At the time, the average price for a one-way ticket was $351.94.

To pinpoint the airport, a high-intensity beacon light atop Port Columbus tower flashed the initials “PC” in Morse Code. It’s reportedly the first of its kind in the U.S.

During its first year, Port Columbus saw more than 11,000 travelers.

Public Works Administration workers built Port Columbus’ east-west runway during the Great Depression.

Port Columbus had 15 scheduled flights a day as World War II loomed.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation leased 83 acres of airport property for the government and produced planes that made the first attack on Rabaul during World War II. It’s one of just 31 non-military fields in the U.S. capable of handling the era’s military aircraft. Curtis-Wright made about 6,000 planes during the war.

During the war, the federal government took over Port Columbus and the Civil Aeronautics Authority allocated $1.5 million to improve the airport, which included lengthening the runways.

The federal government took over operation of the Curtiss-Wright plant and established a Naval Air Facility at Port Columbus.

Port Columbus showed a profit for the first time: $4,329.10

As World War II ended, the U.S. Navy relinquished control of Port Columbus and Mayor James A. Rhodes formed a metropolitan airport commission headed by John P. Biehn with Francis A. “Jack” Bolton as Superintendent. Bolton, fresh out of the Navy, was the youngest large-city airport manager in the country at 26 years of age.

As the Korean War began, North American Aviation leased the former Curtiss-Wright plant at Port Columbus and employed 18,000 to manufacture wartime aircraft.

Larger aircraft began to land at Port Columbus after the east-west runway, known today as the south runway, was extended from 4,500 to 8,000 feet with parallel taxiways.

To position for future growth, the decision was made to move Port Columbus operations from the original Fifth Avenue terminal to a site more centrally located on airport property. In preparation for this move, construction began on a new 10-story control tower located in the middle of airport property. This control tower operated for 50 years until a new tower opened in 2004.

For Port Columbus’ 25th anniversary, the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds performed at the air show.

An estimated 130,000 people attended celebration and dedication activities on September 21 for Port Columbus’ $12 million upgrade including a new terminal building. At that time, Port Columbus ranked as the 16th busiest airport in the country.

Using Convair 880s, Trans World Airlines launched the first full jet service at Port Columbus.

Columbus native Jerrie Mock started and ended her historic 29.5-day solo round-the-world flight from Port Columbus, becoming the first woman ever to do so.

Following the establishment of a U.S. Customs facility, Port Columbus officially became an international airport.

Long-time Port Columbus Superintendent Francis “Jack” Bolton was honored posthumously on October 24 when the City dedicated Bolton Field Airport in southwest Columbus. Bolton Field was constructed to handle general aviation, such as personal aircraft and business aviation, allowing Port Columbus to focus on commercial traffic.

Continental Airlines landed the first scheduled Boeing 747 at Port Columbus in December, used to transport The Ohio State University marching band to Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl. However, this was not the first 747 to ever land at Port Columbus: a Trans World Airlines Boeing 747 touched down in March 1970 during a training flight from New York.

On January 26, volumes of snow and ferocious winds from a blizzard damaged several Port Columbus and Bolton Field buildings. Though Port Columbus remained open, only one Florida-bound Eastern Airlines flight departed. All others were cancelled.

Port Columbus celebrated its 50th anniversary and the original terminal building was added to the Nation Register of Historic Places. Approximately 2.5 million passengers were annually passing through Port Columbus, which became a “model of passenger convenience” following a $70 million airport renovation, including enclosed jetways at every gate.

Bolton Field established a niche by hosting local air shows, and on October 16, astronaut and senator John Glenn served as honorary chairman of an air show benefiting the League Against Child Abuse. The shows included skydivers, aerobatics, wingwalkers, and more.

In July, the city renamed 17th Avenue to International Gateway, which leads to the front door of Port Columbus International Airport. Later in the year, a new 7-gate $15.5 million concourse by U.S. Airways opened. The area eventually became known as Concourse A.

Providing greater latitude and more focused attention to the business of aviation, the oversight of Port Columbus and Bolton Field transferred from the City of Columbus to the independent Columbus Municipal Airport Authority.

Concourse C opened at Port Columbus with four gates to be used by Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines.

Completion of a $20 million north runway extension from 6,000 to 8,000 feet increased the airport’s capacity for aircraft operations.

A $25 million terminal renovation project produced a new food court, retail shops, flight information displays, enhanced lighting, upgraded flooring, and courtesy phones.

A $92 million project included a new six-level parking garage, extensive car rental and roadway improvements, and an atrium.

On September 11, Port Columbus became a haven for numerous airlines and aircraft as America’s skies became a no-fly zone as a result of the day’s terrorist attacks. Passenger screenings became more robust shortly after, resulting in new security checkpoints and baggage screening operations staffed by the newly created Transportation Security Administration.

The Bolton Field Master Plan Update was completed in November, identifying ways the airport could play a larger role in the local aviation system.

In late 2002, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and the Columbus Airport Authority approved the merger of the Columbus Airport Authority and Rickenbacker Port Authority, forming the new Columbus Regional Airport Authority, effective January 1, 2003.

A new air traffic control tower opened, strategically positioned to provide for future expansion of Port Columbus International Airport.

In July, Port Columbus celebrated its 75th anniversary and subsequently recorded 6.2 million total passengers for the year. The Columbus Regional Airport Authority accounted for nearly 30,000 jobs, $793.1 million in payroll, and $2.7 billion in annual economic activity at all three airports.

A realigned International Gateway opened in May, facilitating access from Interstate 670 to airport parking and the terminal. The roadway project included a new cell phone waiting lot.

Completion of the I670/Stelzer Road overpass provided an even quicker and easier access to Port Columbus by eliminating traffic lights at the former intersection of Stelzer and International Gateway.

The first of two inline baggage systems became operational in November, accelerating the passenger check-in process and enhancing baggage screening capabilities. The automated system replaced the old luggage scanning process from in front of the ticket counters to an area behind the scenes, reducing congestion.

Federal Aviation Administrator Michael P. Huerta commissioned Port Columbus’ $140 million South Runway. Funded jointly by the FAA and the Airport Authority, the relocation created sufficient distance from the north runway to accommodate simultaneous arrivals and departures.

Phase 1 of an $80 million terminal modernization was completed in September.

The terminal modernization project continued, with the completion of Phase 2.

Conversion of the former south runway into a taxiway was finalized, resulting in a total of $700 million in airport infrastructure improvements in a 12-year timeframe.

Fairfield Inn & Suites opened in August on airport property.

Six major carriers now served Port Columbus passengers: Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, U.S. Airways (which was in the process of merging with American). Vacation Express, a tour operator, also offered nonstop service.

From Rickenbacker Charter Terminal, Allegiant Airlines provided scheduled, nonstop passenger service to many popular vacation destinations.

U.S. Senator and Astronaut John Glenn inspired a renaming of Port Columbus International Airport to John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

The terminal modernization project came to a close.

A worldwide pandemic caused passenger flow to drop drastically. Throughout the process, CMH continued to serve passengers by providing safe travel.

As the pandemic began to slow, air travel picked back up, and by the end of 2021, CMH was almost back to 2019 passenger levels.

A new rental car center was dedicated in the center of airport property, allowing for more efficient rental car operations and marking a substantial step in preparing for a new terminal.

Breeze Airways, a new low-cost carrier, chose Columbus as one of their launch cities. An inaugural ceremony was held in July 2021 to mark the first flights to arrive and depart. CMH now offers air service through 9 air carriers, with Allegiant operating out of LCK.

Partnerships allowed services for passengers to expand, with the addition of Vohnt Car Care in September, Escape Lounge in November, and the announcement of Sun Country Airlines beginning service out of CMH, bringing the total number of air carriers at CMH to 10.