Your independent guide to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH): airport news, new terminal construction, traveler updates and the history of flying from Columbus, Ohio.
History, progress & your next trip. Read or listen, free.
Three upcoming nonstop options are worth watching if you fly from CMH. The airport's current destination list includes new service to Fort Lauderdale, Punta Cana, and San Juan.
JetBlue service to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is listed for November 2026. Breeze service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is scheduled to begin January 8, 2027. Southwest service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, is scheduled to begin February 13, 2027.
These are planned service starts, not flights operating today. Before booking, check the airline's available dates and schedule, since service plans can change. The official airport destination page linked below is a useful starting point for comparing nonstop options.
In its September 2, 2026 construction report, the airport authority said the arrivals and departures roadways in front of the new terminal were complete. The lower arrivals roadway was set to become the first part of the project used by drivers, while the elevated departures roadway is for future terminal operations.
Crews were also working to enclose the building and frame the large skylight above the future Central Market. Glass walls are intended to open up views of the airfield and Columbus skyline.
A finished roadway does not mean the new terminal is open. Travelers should continue to use the operating terminal and follow current airport signs. For construction photographs, follow the official report linked with this article.
The airport announced a revised approach to the terminal beginning September 9, 2026, using a new permanent stretch of International Gateway beside the terminal construction site. A later airport update reported that the eastbound roadway had opened.
The September announcement also closed the temporary cell phone lot between the John Glenn sign and the rental car center. It identified the waiting lot near Lane Aviation as remaining open and described a one-hour grace period in the Green Lot.
Exit detours and work near Sawyer Road can change the trip out of the airport, too. Treat these details as a dated construction update, not turn-by-turn directions. Before traveling, check the airport's latest notice; on arrival, follow posted signs and allow extra time.
On September 8, 2026, the airport authority announced that CMH would participate in GateSide by TSA PreCheck. The program offers eligible, approved visitors a way to accompany a passenger or meet a loved one beyond security without having a flight ticket.
The announcement describes advance applications through TSA, one to three days before a visit, for eligible PreCheck members or people with a Known Traveler Number. An approved reservation and valid identification are required; children must be included on the reservation.
Approval is not automatic. Use the official announcement and its TSA application link to check current eligibility and procedures before making plans. This independent guide cannot issue visitor passes.
On September 23, I had the privilege of providing transportation to and from CMH for a veteran taking part in Honor Flight Columbus. It was an honor to play a small part in his day.
Honor Flight Columbus Mission 155 was the Denman and Boggs Memorial flight. The organization honors veterans with a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the nation's memorials, at no cost to the veterans.
Honor Flight Columbus shared photos from the day, including a group photograph and a veteran's name tag decorated with stamps collected at the memorials. You can view those photographs through the links to the organization's original Facebook posts below.
Thank you to the veterans, guardians, volunteers, and supporters who make these trips possible.
Renderings illustrate planned designs, not completed buildings. Construction photos show the stage pictured and are not a live feed. Images are hosted by the official airport sites; select an image to enlarge it.
BUILDING WHAT’S NEXT
Meet the future terminal
The project, the passenger experience, and what is still ahead.
The new terminal1 min read
A new terminal for a growing region
What CMH Next will change, and the opening target to watch.
CMH Next is the airport's two-billion-dollar terminal project, with an anticipated opening in early 2029. It is a new terminal at the existing John Glenn Columbus International Airport, rather than a new airport elsewhere.
Plans call for 36 gates, including two international gates with customs facilities, and capacity for 13 million passengers a year. One central security checkpoint with 12 screening lanes is designed to bring passengers into a connected terminal.
A Central Market will bring dining, shopping, and views of the airfield together. Planned amenities include a sensory room, nursing rooms, and universal changing stations. A pedestrian bridge will link the terminal with the rental car center and a new parking garage.
These are planned features and a target opening date. As construction progresses, this guide will follow the airport authority's announcements and distinguish completed work from what is still ahead.
Port Columbus opened on July 8, 1929, as a connection between trains and airplanes on a transcontinental journey. Travelers arrived by rail near the original Fifth Avenue terminal before continuing west by air. It was a bold idea in a time when crossing the country was an adventure in itself.
In 1958, a new terminal opened at the airport. That building, expanded and modernized over the decades, is the terminal travelers still use while its replacement takes shape.
Port Columbus became John Glenn Columbus International Airport in 2016. The new name honors Ohio's astronaut and senator, while the airport code, CMH, stays familiar. Today's construction is another chapter in a story that began with train whistles, propellers, and a young country's enthusiasm for flight.
After a passenger used CLEAR Concierge during a Smart Ride drop-off at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, we looked into the service. CLEAR lists CMH as a participating airport.
For departures, an Ambassador meets you at the curb, helps with luggage and airline check-in, and escorts you through security to your gate or lounge. CLEAR advertises departure service starting at $99, separate from CLEAR+ membership. Check the booking page for your flight's price and availability.
At CMH, every traveler age 18 or older in the party needs CLEAR+ membership. Children 17 and under can join free; departure parties can include up to five people total. TSA PreCheck is not required, and normal security screening still applies.
Book ahead through CLEAR's website or app. Your Ambassador texts you to coordinate the meeting point. If riding with Smart Ride, share those meeting instructions with your driver so the drop-off can be coordinated.
Bag help includes taking you to the airline baggage counter. Wheelchair assistance must be requested through your airline; CLEAR Ambassadors cannot push wheelchairs. Lounge entry requires your own access. This is a separately booked CLEAR service. Details checked September 26, 2026.
Before airport day, check your airline's flight status and arrival-time guidance, then review current airport access notices. Construction can change familiar routes, so leave room in your schedule and agree on pickup details before traveling.
Smart Ride Central Ohio created this guide to help our neighbors understand what's changing at the airport, enjoy its history, and plan their next trip. If you would like help with transportation, use the booking link to request an airport ride or call Steve to discuss your plans.
This guide is free to read and listen to, with no account or time limit. It is independently published by Smart Ride Central Ohio and is not the airport's official website. For live flight decisions, rely on your airline and official airport information.
For live flight status, check your airline. This guide is not a flight tracker or emergency alert service.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Keep CMH in your inbox.
Get a roundup when we publish meaningful airport news. Up to one scheduled email per day, only when there is something new.
Airport updates from Smart Ride Central Ohio may include links to our ride services. Confirm your email to subscribe. Unsubscribe anytime. No account required.
Know someone who flies from Columbus?
Share this free guide with a neighbor, friend, or fellow traveler.
CMH is John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. Rickenbacker International Airport uses the separate code LCK. Check the airport code on your booking before arranging a ride. The official Columbus airports website provides airport and passenger information.
Where can I find updates about the new CMH terminal?
Read our new terminal coverage for context and linked sources, and check CMH Next for official project announcements. Construction milestones and planned dates can change; a completed roadway does not mean the new passenger terminal has opened.
How should I plan an airport pickup during construction?
Review the dated traveler updates, then confirm current access information with the airport. Follow current signs and confirm your specific meeting location with your driver. For Smart Ride transportation, share your flight details and agree on pickup instructions directly with Steve.
Is this the official airport website?
No. Smart Ride Central Ohio publishes this independent guide. Articles link to their sources, and Steve’s CMH Notes identify firsthand observations. For current flight status, airport rules and operating conditions, use the official airport website and your airline.
What can I do in Columbus during my visit?
Explore our Columbus and Central Ohio events guide for a selected lineup of concerts, theater, sports, festivals and other outings, with official event links and transportation planning.
OHIO STATE FAMILIES
Getting your student home for the holidays?
Meet Steve French and plan private airport transportation between Ohio State’s campus and CMH or LCK for Thanksgiving, Christmas and winter break.
This informational guide is independently published by Smart Ride Central Ohio, a private transportation business. It is not an official John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) page and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, TSA, or airlines. Airport plans, schedules, and travel conditions can change. Confirm current information with the official airport website and your airline before traveling. Original summaries link to their sources. Source reviews are scheduled daily, and new information is posted when verified. Each article includes AI-generated Benjamin narration, the voice used in our Road Stories guides.
Subscription data includes your email, confirmation and unsubscribe status, consent record, and email delivery history. It is stored in our secured database and sent through our email provider. You can unsubscribe using any update email or contact Steve to request deletion. Brief hashed network identifiers help limit abusive signups.
