CMHKCMHNormal19°C / 66°F

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

Columbus, United States · North America

CMH is a straightforward mid-size airport with good local food and easy ground access, but separate concourses, aging facilities under construction, and limited lounge options create clear friction for multi-airline or lounge-seeking travelers.

Airportist Score

6.9/ 10

Editorial 0–10 from comfort, navigation, food, transport, and disruption resilience — not a Google rating.

Passengers

9.0–9.4M

Average security

15 min

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

Unconnected concourses forcing re-security for lounge or gate changesMorning peak security lines (especially Southwest banks)Ongoing CMH Next construction curb and parking disruptionsLimited lounge options and small Escape Lounge with no bathrooms

12 photos

Entrance sign to the NetJets Terminal and Hub at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (KCMH),

A Honda Accord on display in the main terminal of John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, United States.

A Transportation Security Administration agent at a checkpoint verifying passenger identification, John Glenn Columbus International Airport

Rickenbacker International Airport (KLCK, top right), Ohio, and John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Ohio (KCMH, bottom)

John Glenn Columbus International Airport(KCMH), formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower. Elevation: 815 ft. / 248.4 m (surveyed).

John Glenn International Airport Departure level

KCMH - John Glenn Columbus International Airport Radar.

Delta 737-932ER at Port Columbus Airport just arrived from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Air Force One 28000 at John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), 10-13-2016

John Glenn International Airport Flight Information Board

NetJets Headquarters at John Glen Columbus International Airport (KCMH). Viewed from the SE at sunset - 8:23 PM local time. The facility was constructed in 04 04, 2012.

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 90 minutes early, earlier for peaks

Hit the airport 90 minutes before domestic departures; add buffer for 6–9am Southwest banks when lines spike.

Official average waits hover under 15 minutes but real peaks hit 30–45 minutes; check flycolumbus.com/security live estimates.

Terminal

Know your concourse before security

Confirm your airline’s concourse (A Southwest, B AA/UA, C Delta) and go straight to that checkpoint—concourses do not connect airside.

Wrong checkpoint means exiting and re-clearing TSA; Escape Lounge access from A or C requires the same double security hit.

Food

Hit local spots over chains

Prioritize Donatos (A/C), Land-Grant Brewing or Eddie George’s (B), and Jeni’s ice cream machines for Columbus flavor.

Wolfgang Puck and Plum Market also solid; pre-security Hangar 815 and PeppTron robot pizza for landside options.

Status

Watch construction traffic and new terminal progress

CMH Next construction is active—expect shifting curb patterns and parking changes; new terminal targets 2029.

Current facility handles record traffic but feels dated; monitor flycolumbus.com for traffic pattern alerts.

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km.

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 03:30 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 6, 07:30 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 90 minutes early, earlier for peaks

Hit the airport 90 minutes before domestic departures; add buffer for 6–9am Southwest banks when lines spike.

Official average waits hover under 15 minutes but real peaks hit 30–45 minutes; check flycolumbus.com/security live estimates.

Terminal

Know your concourse before security

Confirm your airline’s concourse (A Southwest, B AA/UA, C Delta) and go straight to that checkpoint—concourses do not connect airside.

Wrong checkpoint means exiting and re-clearing TSA; Escape Lounge access from A or C requires the same double security hit.

Food

Hit local spots over chains

Prioritize Donatos (A/C), Land-Grant Brewing or Eddie George’s (B), and Jeni’s ice cream machines for Columbus flavor.

Wolfgang Puck and Plum Market also solid; pre-security Hangar 815 and PeppTron robot pizza for landside options.

Status

Watch construction traffic and new terminal progress

CMH Next construction is active—expect shifting curb patterns and parking changes; new terminal targets 2029.

Current facility handles record traffic but feels dated; monitor flycolumbus.com for traffic pattern alerts.

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 03:30 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 6, 07:30 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 03:30 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 6, 07:30 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For

CMHGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

MyTSA

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 03:30 EDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 6, 07:30 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for CMH.

Updated Sep 2, 2026

Single terminal with three concourses (A/B/C) that are not connected airside—re-clear security to switch
Southwest dominates Concourse A; American/United/Air Canada in B; Delta and others in C
Record ~9.0–9.4M annual passengers; new terminal under construction for 2029 opening
Escape Lounge (only real paid lounge) sits in B by Gate 32; USO landside for military
Separate TSA checkpoints per concourse open ~4am–8:30pm; PreCheck and CLEAR available
Local food standouts include Donatos pizza, Land-Grant Brewing, Jeni’s ice cream, and Eddie George’s Grille

13 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.5

Navigation6.8

Food7.5

Transport7.4

Disruption resilience6.5

Key Stats

Annual passengers

9.0–9.4M

Terminals

1 terminal with 3 concourses (29 gates)

On-time departures

76%

Average security

15 min

Best For

Quick domestic hops with Southwest, American, United or DeltaTravelers who value local food and craft beerRideshare or short-drive access to downtown ColumbusMilitary families using the USO

Watch Out For