Absolutely! The Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) supports policies that benefit our community. We want to ensure the design and construction of this transformational project will benefit the community that it will serve. This includes working with underrepresented businesses and supporting local workers, including union labor. CRAA has committed to:

• Target a 25% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Diverse Business Partner (DBE/DBP) participation goal, equating to approximately $400 million worth of contracts going to underrepresented businesses including small, local, minority, women- and veteran-owned firms.

• Pay wages and benefits equal to the base wage and fringes established in the prevailing wage schedule to all contractors performing onsite work on the new terminal project, which will be enforced by project contracts.

The airport is self-sustaining. The new terminal will be paid for through a number of sources, including airlines and tenants, passenger user fees, parking, concessions, and other non-airline revenue. The airport will sell general airport revenue bonds committing future revenues and passenger facility charges from the aforementioned sources. In addition, the airport will be applying for federal grants.

The new terminal at CMH will have 36 gates — 7 more than the 29 we operate with today — and will be able to accommodate 51% more passengers daily.

This planned terminal puts the finishing touch on more than two decades of planning and development at CMH, and we’re still thinking about the future. There is significant space to expand the terminal to the east and add new gates to support Central Ohio as needed.

Construction will begin by late 2024 with an opening in early 2029. That means the new terminal will be completed about 100 years after CMH first opened in 1929.

Development of a new terminal is planned in the current location of the Blue and Cell Phone Parking Lots, adjacent to the existing Rental Car Center.

Whether you’re a curious traveler, a journalist, or a potential vendor, we’re here to answer your questions. Reach out to cmhnext@columbusairports.com and a representative will be in touch. 

Today, three separate concourses and security checkpoints mean that passengers only have access to the amenities within their concourse. This is also limiting for businesses and vendors. By centralizing these concourses into one, streamlined checkpoint, we’ll create a more efficient security experience while being able to offer passengers holistic access to all amenities—regardless of their assigned gate. 

Columbus has been an epicenter for air travel since the beginning. Our current terminal opened in 1958, making it more than six decades old.  While there have been updates over the years, multiple assets and systems are nearing the end of their useful lives.

Our award-winning global architecture, design, and planning firm Gensler and local partner Moody Nolan are committed to building the most passenger-friendly facility possible. This airport will be the terminal of the future - maintaining the core of what our community loves about CMH while incorporating much-needed upgrades to keep up with the growth of Central Ohio and the millions of annual passengers we serve.

No. The existing runways are able to meet the current and future needs of our passenger growth.

Plans for the new terminal will include a new 5,000-space parking garage to ensure that accessibility needs can be met.

From the materials we use—and reuse—during construction to the building management systems we implement after the new terminal is built, sustainability is at the core of our strategic vision for CMH. Every decision we make strives to optimize energy use, reduce water, and minimize waste. This project is aiming for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Here are a few specifics:

• Electric charging stations in the parking garage

• The ability to charge ground service handling equipment

• Using daylight-efficient design materials, like smart glass

• LED fixtures throughout

• Sustainable building management systems, such as temperature control

• Installation of low-flow toilets to reduce water usage

• Reusing construction materials to minimize waste

• Choosing environmentally preferable materials

• Hydration stations for reusable water bottles

Because the new terminal will be built while the existing terminal is still operational, we anticipate continuous operations and normal flight schedules throughout construction. There may be disruptions along access roads to the terminal during construction and we will keep the public aware of those adjustments. Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date.