Columbus airport hopes service will soar with new terminal
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John Glenn Columbus International Airport once again received a lukewarm rating from fliers, according to J.D. Power's annual ranking of midsize airports.
Why it matters: The latest survey comes as a $2 billion new terminal project aiming to improve customer experiences is set to break ground early next year.
State of play: Columbus ranked No. 9 out of 15 medium-size airports, behind regional competitors like Indianapolis (No. 1) and Cincinnati (8).
- That's a slight improvement, as Columbus ranked 11th in both 2022 and 2023.
😬 Well, at least we aren't Cleveland. Its airport ranked dead last.
How it works: The annual survey measures traveler satisfaction across seven categories: ease of travel; level of trust; terminal facilities; airport staff; experience getting to the airport; experience leaving the airport; and food, beverage and retail offerings.
The big picture: Record numbers of travelers are passing through airports nationwide in 2024.
- John Glenn and nearby Rickenbacker International Airport served a record 2.58 million travelers this summer, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority announced Wednesday.
- While J.D. Power says fliers largely enjoy their experience, satisfaction scores plummet when airports are perceived as too crowded.
By the numbers: Columbus' new terminal will eventually be able to handle 51% more passengers daily, per the airport authority.
Catch up quick: It will feature one large streamlined concourse instead of three separate ones, with seven more gates (36 total) and room for expansion.
- New food and beverage options are planned, along with a 5,000-car parking garage.
- The current terminal, which opened in 1958, will be demolished.
- The targeted opening is 2029, to coincide with the airport's 100th anniversary.
What they're saying: "Our hardworking team works every day to provide the best experience possible for our customers, while in a facility built nearly six decades ago," airport authority spokesperson Breann González Almos tells Axios in a statement.
- "That's among the reasons we believe our transformative new terminal project will deliver a first-class experience and help us meet growing demand."
📬 Did the J.D. Power rankings get it right? Email [email protected] and share your hot takes on traveling.
- FWIW: We had a great experience flying to Minnesota last week!