Blog - John Glenn International (CMH) & Rickenbacker (LCK) Airports

Rickenbacker airport emergency exercise; a team of firefighters moving toward an airplane on fire and extinguishing the flames.

Airport emergency simulation scheduled for September 17: Here’s what you need to know

Safety is our top priority for everyone at the airport. This means that any time an incident occurs, our teams work quickly and with each other to respond through the crisis. We have clear action plans set in place, and every year, we put our crisis response to the test through a full-scale airport emergency simulation. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming emergency simulation scheduled for Thursday, September 17, at CMH. Commercial airports are required to test their

View from inside the airport terminal looking through large windows at several commercial airplanes parked on the airfield, representing air travel the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

A day that changed aviation: Airport employees reflect on 9/11

“It’s just a unique situation that some of us had to experience, and we try to share that.” Scott Bekemeier Police Lieutenant In the 25 years since September 11, 2001, our country, our industry, and our world have changed significantly. What began as a sunny Tuesday morning became a day marked by confusion, tragedy, and, amidst it all, extraordinary acts of humanity. The impact on the aviation industry was profound

Aerial view of construction on the new terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, showing the terminal structure, elevated roadway, cranes, construction equipment, and surrounding runways.

One milestone at a time: CMH Next’s new terminal project update

A new chapter is taking shape at John Glenn Columbus International Airport As construction on our future terminal moves forward, each milestone brings fresh energy and excitement—not just for travelers, but for everyone who calls Central Ohio home. From the first steel beams to the soaring skylight, progress is visible, and momentum is building. Today, we’re sharing a glimpse of what’s happening behind the scenes and what you can expect

Graphic promoting nonstop fall travel destinations from Columbus. Text reads, “Nonstop flight destinations to fall in love with this autumn season,” alongside a dotted flight path forming a heart. Photos feature the skylines and scenery of Austin, Texas; Montreal, Canada; Tampa, Florida; Key West, Florida; and Providence, Rhode Island.

Nonstop flight destinations to fall in love with this autumn season

Kids are back in school, fall semester is underway, and everyone’s excited for pumpkin spice to be back on the menu. It’s nature’s way of saying that autumn is in our midst, and a new season means more reasons to book a flight to our 55+ nonstop destinations, with newly added routes and expanded service. Cozy up and start planning the fall vacation of your dreams. We’ve got some travel ideas covered. Rustling leaves and quiet country Fall foliage and

Wide view of an airport airfield and terminal beneath dark, dramatic storm clouds. Several commercial aircraft are parked at gates in the distance as heavy gray clouds fill most of the sky, signaling approaching severe weather.

How airports work: What happens when severe weather hits

Summer storms can move quickly. One minute, flights are moving and bags are being loaded. The next, lightning rolls into the area and activity outside the terminal comes to a stop. Then the storm passes, the skies clear and you may find yourself wondering: Why is my flight still delayed? There’s a lot happening behind the scenes when severe weather moves through an airport. Here’s what you should know. When

Daren Grifin appears on stage with two other airport leaders for a panel discussion.

Rickenbacker powers the future of Ohio’s aerospace and defense industry

On a recent panel discussion at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s Midwest Aerospace and Defense Summit, airport leaders from across the state discussed how their complementary roles provide opportunity for the defense and aerospace industry to grow in Ohio. Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) President & CEO Daren Griffin shared how Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) allows manufacturing, warehousing, suppliers, and global cargo operations to come together in one integrated ecosystem in Central Ohio. Recent investment at Rickenbacker shows what happens when the right infrastructure meets the right opportunity. When

View of John Glenn Columbus International Airport from an elevated vantage point on a hazy day, with wildfire smoke reducing visibility across the airfield. The terminal roof, parking garage, control tower, runways, and construction cranes are visible beneath a gray sky. Photo credit: Tim Fox.

Canadian wildfire smoke and your flight: Is it safe to fly?

If you’ve stepped outside recently, you’ve noticed the haze. Smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires has drifted into parts of the United States, leading to air quality alerts across much of the Midwest and Northeast, especially here in Columbus. While poor outdoor air quality can make people think twice about spending time outside, it also raises another question: Is it safe to fly when the air quality is poor? The short answer is yes. The air inside

An airplane taking off from an airport at sunrise, with a clear blue sky and contrails visible overhead.

Sky-high success: How our airports fuel Ohio’s business success

It is official: Ohio is the best place in America to do business In its highly anticipated 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, CNBC named Ohio the No. 1 state for business for the first time since the study launched in 2007. Moving from No. 5 last year all the way to the top spot caps off five consecutive years of economic climbs. While this monumental win is a

From Montreal to Punta Cana: a look at our latest route update

An all-new lineup of nonstop flights just landed! With new and expanded service to 17 locations, the challenge might be deciding where to go first. Nonstops making their debut: Montreal – launched May 1 (Air Canada) Greenville-Spartanburg – launched May 8 (Breeze Airways) Key West – launched May 21 (Allegiant, from Rickenbacker) Austin – launched June 7 (Delta’s daily nonstop joins Southwest’s twice daily service) Savannah – launched July 1 (Breeze Airways, in addition to Allegiant’s less-than-daily service from Rickenbacker) Tampa – launched July

Southwest Airlines plane in a red, white and blue American flag livery taking off at dusk, with the Columbus skyline visible in the background.

History is calling, and it’s nonstop: America’s 250th from Columbus

America turned 250 this year, and the party isn’t over. From Boston to St. Louis, cities across the country are marking the semiquincentennial with new exhibits, reopened landmarks and a whole lot of flag bunting. The good news for Columbus: you don’t need a connection to get to most of it. Here are six places worth the trip if you want to see where American history actually happened, all reachable