Why Columbus' first direct flight to Europe "raises the bar"
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Columbus leaders gathered Monday to announce John Glenn International Airport's first direct flight to Europe. Photo: Andrew King/Axios
John Glenn International Airport is getting its first direct flight to Europe next year, with nonstop service to Frankfurt, Germany.
Why it matters: The route will connect Columbus residents and businesses directly to Europe (and vice versa) — a new channel that leaders expect to bolster our economy and global reputation.
State of play: Lufthansa Airlines will begin flying direct from John Glenn to Frankfurt Airport starting May 2027, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority announced Monday.
- Tickets go on sale Tuesday.
- Overnight trips will depart at 4:20pm Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrive at 6:15am local time.
The intrigue: Lufthansa will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the trip, which accommodates 287 passengers including 28 lie-flat business seats.
What they're saying: CRAA president and CEO Daren Griffin calls the route "a connection to a gateway" that will take people from Columbus to Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
- "A market like Frankfurt and an airline like Lufthansa really raises the bar here. We're a global city, and these are international connections … It really highlights that we're one of the cities that can compete on an international level."
- Mayor Andrew Ginther called the flight a "game-changer" and "one of the biggest accomplishments for our community in decades."
Between the lines: The new flight comes amid construction of a new $2 billion terminal planned to open in 2029 — but Griffin says the airport is working to attract airlines and bolster connections in the meantime.
- "Lufthansa didn't want to wait, and neither did we."
🇩🇪 Context: The announcement comes amid deepening business connections between Germany and Central Ohio.
- This month, pharmaceutical giant Bayer announced a $2.2 billion manufacturing facility in New Albany.
- German-based Wieland, Picanova, Würth, Covestro and Gealan have also announced Central Ohio projects in recent years.
- Thirty-eight German-based companies operate in the region, per an airport news release.
Between the lines: Lufthansa had plenty of options for expanding routes — its nearest direct flight to Germany flies out of Detroit.
- But Dirk Janzen, its VP of passenger sales in the Americas, praised Columbus as "one of the most vibrant economic regions" in the country, and called the route "a new bridge between Ohio and the world."
- "Its diverse economy, strong innovation ecosystem, world-class educational institutions and growing international business community make [Columbus] an ideal candidate for our network."