Expect another busy travel year at CMH
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A record number of travelers took to the skies last year in Columbus, and based on nationwide trends, expect packed flights again this year.
Why it matters: What initially seemed like a release of pent-up demand for travel immediately following the worst of COVID-19 now looks more like a sustained climb, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports.
The big picture: Growing travel crowds continue making a case for the massive terminal replacement starting to take shape at John Glenn International Airport.
- The project, dubbed CMH Next, is targeted to open in 2029 — coinciding with the airport's 100th anniversary.
State of play: The Columbus Regional Airport Authority issued $1 billion in municipal debt last week, its largest bond sale ever, to help finance the overhaul.
- The new terminal will be built on the blue parking lot, which closed in early December as site preparations began.
- The red and green lots were expanded to make room, and the project includes a multi-level parking garage.
Pro tips: Some roadway shifts are in place due to construction, so follow posted speed limits and signs carefully.
- The cellphone lot for drivers picking up passengers has temporarily moved, and now drivers are also allowed to wait in the green parking lot for up to 1 hour.
- Visit flycolumbus.com to stay up to date on additional changes.
What's next: The airport authority is "actively working to add to our 50+ nonstop destinations throughout the year." spokesperson Breann González Almos tells Axios.
- A new direct flight to Los Angeles on American Airlines starts in March.