COLUMBUS, Ohio — Officials with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority anticipate an increase in passengers this Thanksgiving travel season and are advising passengers to plan for enough time to navigate the airport.
“We are thrilled that so many passengers choose Columbus airports to be the start of their holiday celebrations,” said Joseph R. Nardone, President & CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “With more than 50 nonstop destinations, passengers have access to endless travel options. There’s a lot of excitement about the new terminal at John Glenn International, and we intend to continue providing the best possible experience for all our travelers throughout this major project.”
There are more than 222,000 scheduled seats departing from John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport between Wednesday, November 20, and Tuesday, December 3 – up 7,500 seats, or 3.5%, from last year. Columbus airports are experiencing a record-breaking year, surpassing passenger numbers in eight out of the last nine months.
| Busiest travel day | Scheduled departing airline seats |
|---|---|
| Sunday, Nov. 24 | 17,972 |
| Tuesday, Nov. 25 | 17,685 |
| Wednesday, Nov. 27 | 17,334 |
| Sunday, Dec. 1 | 18,671 |
| Monday, Dec. 2 | 18,007 |
To prepare for the increase in passengers, CRAA staff recommends:
- Pack smart. Visit TSA.gov to learn what you can and can’t bring through security, see the 3-1-1 liquid rule explained, and find out what part of the Thanksgiving feast you’re able to bring with you on the plane.
- Know your parking options. There are a variety of parking options ranging from long-term lots to valet parking to spots with electric vehicle chargers. You can even get your oil changed or car detailed while you are on your trip.
- Arrive early. Arrive at least 90 minutes early for domestic flights and two hours for international. Take advantage of TSA PreCheck or CLEAR if you are registered. Get through security and then enjoy some shopping or a pre-flight meal. Don’t forget that you can track the estimated average wait time of the TSA checkpoints.
- Save time at the curb. When you get back to Columbus, your friends and family can wait to pick you up in our nearby Cell Phone Lot.
CMH offers a variety of accessibility programs so that all passengers can have positive experiences while at the airport:
- Universal changing table
- Nursing rooms
- Aira visual assistance
- Journey Care Kits
- Visual paging displays
- Pet therapy dogs
To learn more about the programs available at each airport, visit our Accessibility webpage.
