John Glenn Columbus International Airport
Everything a traveller, shipper, or investor needs before using Columbus (CMH): the three concourse layout and its separate security checkpoints, the airlines and nonstop routes, the CMH Next terminal programme, ground transport into downtown, the freight role of Rickenbacker, the practical path from Ohio to Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao, and where to go once the meeting is done.
One terminal, three concourses, and three separate checkpoints
John Glenn Columbus International Airport runs a single two level terminal building. Departures and airline ticketing sit on the upper level, while arrivals and baggage claim sit below. Three concourses fan out from the main building: A at the south end, B in the middle, and C at the north end. Twenty nine gates are in service today. Each concourse has its own TSA checkpoint, and there is no confirmed airside walkway between them, so a concourse change means exiting the secure area and screening again. Same concourse connections are simple. Cross concourse connections deserve a 90 minute buffer.
Southwest territory
Five gates numbered A2 to A6 serve Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier at CMH. Food and drink inside the concourse includes a Chili's and a Starbucks. Southwest runs the widest domestic network from Columbus, including Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, and St. Louis.
- Southwest Airlines
If you are flying Southwest, head straight to the A checkpoint rather than the main hall.
Largest concourse and the only lounge
Fourteen gates numbered B19 to B26, B28 to B32, and B34 to B36 handle American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, and Spirit Airlines. The Escape Lounge sits near gate B32 and is the only lounge in the terminal. American and United both run hub connections here through Charlotte, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington Dulles.
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Air Canada
- Spirit Airlines
Air Canada to Toronto departs from this concourse and is the shortest path from Ohio into the Philippine Airlines network.
Delta, Alaska, and international arrivals
Gates numbered in the C46 to C56 range serve Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. Concourse C also handles international arrivals, where passengers clear US Customs and Border Protection before entering the public hall. A USO lounge sits near the concourse exit lane.
- Delta Air Lines
- Alaska Airlines
- Breeze Airways
- Frontier Airlines
- Sun Country
Arriving from Toronto, Montreal, or Cancun? You will land here and clear border inspection in this building.
A single 36 gate terminal opens in early 2029
Ground broke in December 2024 on the largest rebuild in the airport's history, roughly 100 years after CMH first opened in 1929. The new terminal rises across International Gateway from the current building, which keeps the airport fully operational during construction.
The three concourses and three checkpoints collapse into a single centralised concourse with 36 gates, seven more than today. Every passenger reaches every shop, restaurant, and lounge after clearing security once.
The design accommodates 51 percent more daily passengers than the current building, with space reserved to the east for further gate expansion as central Ohio grows.
The Walking Lot closed to new parkers on 4 May 2026 to make room for the build. Shuttle lots and garages remain open. Expect changing traffic patterns on International Gateway through 2029 and check the live property map before driving.
A dozen airlines, more than 55 nonstop destinations, no long haul nonstop yet
CMH is not a hub for any single carrier, which keeps fares competitive and spreads service across four big network airlines plus a strong low cost and leisure segment. As of late 2026 the airport counts a dozen airlines and more than 55 nonstop destinations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Southwest carries the largest share of passengers and anchors Concourse A. American and United connect Columbus to their hubs at Charlotte, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington Dulles. Delta feeds Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City.
Air Canada flies year round to Toronto and seasonally to Montreal. Cancun runs seasonally on American, Southwest, and Delta. Breeze adds Punta Cana from January 2027. Sun Country, Frontier, Alaska, and Spirit fill out the leisure and West Coast map.
JetBlue returns to CMH on 3 November 2026 with daily Fort Lauderdale service. Southwest adds Saturday San Juan flights from February 2027. Lufthansa launches Columbus to Frankfurt on 5 May 2027, the first nonstop link from central Ohio to continental Europe and a one stop path into Southeast Asia.
Open the official nonstop route list from Fly Columbus and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority site.
Six miles from downtown, with a two dollar bus and no train
The airport sits about six miles east of downtown Columbus, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car outside rush hour. There is no rail link. The public bus, rideshare, taxis, and rental cars cover the gap, and parking ranges from about $9 a day in the Green Lot to $30 a day in the Short Term Garage.
COTA Line 7 Mount Vernon
The city bus stops at the baggage claim level and runs to downtown in about 50 to 60 minutes for a flat $2.00 fare, paid on board or by tap. The older AirConnect express was suspended during the pandemic. A new express Line 99 to downtown and Ohio State is planned for 2028.
Rideshare and taxis
Uber and Lyft pick up on the arrivals level at marked zones. A rideshare into downtown typically runs $20 to $35 depending on demand, while a metered taxi runs about $25 to $28. Both beat the bus on time and lose to it on price.
Rental cars
Nine rental companies operate from a 900,000 square foot rental car center. Follow the purple signs on the arrivals level and take the shuttle, which runs 24 hours. Central Ohio's highway grid puts Dublin, Westerville, New Albany, and the Intel site in Licking County within a 20 to 40 minute drive.
Hotels on airport
The Residence Inn Columbus Airport sits adjacent to the terminal on International Gateway, one of four hotels on airport grounds. That makes a very early departure or a late arrival far less stressful than a downtown stay.
Parking and drop off
Garages sit next to the terminal and shuttle lots run around the clock. The Walking Lot closed in May 2026 for the new terminal build. Cell phone waiting and curbside drop off have moved with construction, so follow posted signs.
Driving directions
From downtown take I 670 east to International Gateway. From the north use I 270 to Easton and follow signs to the airport. Rush hour runs roughly 7:00 to 9:00 AM and 4:30 to 6:30 PM, so add 10 to 20 minutes in those windows.
Passengers fly from CMH, heavy freight flies from Rickenbacker
Understanding this split matters for anyone shipping samples, production runs, or ecommerce stock between Ohio and Asia. CMH carries belly freight on passenger aircraft. The dedicated freighter operation for the region is Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), about 12 miles south and part of the same airport authority.
Wide body and narrow body belly capacity moves parcels and time sensitive freight alongside passenger flights. For apparel samples and small air shipments into central Ohio, this is often the fastest door to door option.
Rickenbacker International Airport handles dedicated freighter traffic with direct runway access, a foreign trade zone, and an adjacent Norfolk Southern intermodal terminal. It is the reason central Ohio ranks as a national distribution hub rather than a regional one. See the airport authority cargo overview.
Foreign Trade Zone 138 covers the Rickenbacker area, allowing importers to defer, reduce, or avoid duties on goods that are reexported or entered later. For a Philippine manufacturer shipping finished apparel, that can change the landed cost maths on a US distribution centre.
No nonstop from Columbus, but the connections are strong
CMH has no direct flight to Asia, and that is fine. Three routings cover almost every trip to Manila, Cebu, Clark, or Davao, and one of them became genuinely short in late 2026.
Routing options that work
- Chicago O'Hare first, then nonstop to Manila. Philippine Airlines began Manila to Chicago O'Hare service in November 2026. CMH runs up to 15 daily departures to O'Hare on American, United, and regional partners, so a morning connection reaches Manila the next evening on one ticket.
- Toronto first, then nonstop to Manila. Air Canada flies CMH to Toronto year round, and Philippine Airlines runs four weekly Toronto to Manila flights. This is the shortest total journey time from Columbus when the schedules line up.
- West Coast first. Fly CMH to Los Angeles or San Francisco on American, United, or Southwest, then take Philippine Airlines or United nonstop to Manila. Seattle and Honolulu work the same way on Alaska, Delta, or Hawaiian partners.
- Domestic connection in the Philippines. From Manila or Cebu, hop to Davao (DVO), Cagayan de Oro, or Clark on PAL, Cebu Pacific, or Philippines AirAsia. Tagum City and the Davao Region are about three hours by road from Davao airport.
What to prepare before you fly
- Baggage rules change at the connection. A transpacific ticket usually allows two checked pieces. The domestic Philippine leg often allows less, so confirm the whole itinerary rather than the first segment.
- Time difference. Columbus runs Eastern Time. Manila is 12 hours ahead during daylight saving and 13 hours ahead in winter. Book the first day lightly.
- eTravel registration. Complete the official Philippine eTravel form within 72 hours of arrival. It is free and replaces the old arrival card.
- Passport validity. Carry at least six months of validity beyond your planned stay. Most US passport holders receive a 30 day visa free entry that can be extended in country.
- Season. December to May is dry and hot, June to November is wetter, and the surf season on Siargao runs August to November. Typhoon attention matters most from July to October.
Add three days and the country opens up
The Philippines is 7,641 islands, but a short add on after a plant visit does not need a long loop. Manila, Cebu, and Davao act as the three gateway cities, and a domestic hop from any of them reaches a beach, a mountain, or a heritage town in under two hours. English is spoken across the country, and one entry stamp covers the business days and the leisure days together.
Heritage in the capital, rice terraces to the north
Manila carries most of the arrival traffic, so a spare day at either end of a trip fits here without a domestic flight.
- Intramuros and Fort SantiagoThe walled city of Spanish Manila, walkable in half a day from most hotels.
- Banaue rice terracesCarved more than 2,000 years ago and listed by UNESCO, reached by an overnight bus or a short flight plus a road transfer.
- ViganA preserved Spanish colonial street grid and another UNESCO site, best paired with a flight into Laoag.
Reefs, islands, and the shortest beach break
Cebu is the busiest domestic hub outside Manila and the fastest route from a factory floor to saltwater.
- BoholThe Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries, and diving off Panglao, about two hours by ferry from Cebu.
- BoracayWhite Beach reached through Caticlan, with the calmest water and clearest skies from December to May.
- SiargaoCloud 9 surf and quiet island roads, with the swell season running August to November.
Our own region, twenty minutes from the plant
Davao is where RB Advertising produces, so a site visit can end on a beach without another flight.
- Samal IslandResorts and coves across a short ferry ride from Davao City.
- Mount ApoThe highest peak in the country at 2,954 metres, climbed over two to three days with a registered guide.
- Tagum City and the Davao GulfThe production base, an hour north of the container terminal and close to the Gulf coast.
Plan the practical side with the Philippines tourist visa rules and visa extension steps, then pick a base from beach resorts around Davao City, van transfers and city tours, or Tagum City for longer stays.
Why a central Ohio operator should look at the Philippines
Columbus is no longer only a logistics city. Advanced manufacturing, battery production, semiconductors, insurance, and a large university pipeline have turned central Ohio into a capital intensive region that needs offshore production partners. The Philippines answers that need with a legal framework built for foreign ownership, an English speaking workforce, and tariff access that most of Southeast Asia cannot match.
20 percent corporate income tax
The CREATE MORE Act, Republic Act 12066, cut the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent for both domestic and foreign corporations and added enhanced deductions for power, training, and infrastructure. That is competitive with Vietnam and well below the US federal rate.
Full foreign ownership in most sectors
The Public Service Act amendments under Republic Act 11659 opened most non utility sectors to 100 percent foreign equity, and the amended Foreign Investments Act lowered barriers for small and medium foreign investors. Retail trade, distribution, and manufacturing are broadly open.
Tariff access in every direction
Philippine goods enter the European Union under the GSP+ scheme at zero duty on most products, enter Japan and Australia under bilateral agreements, and move inside ASEAN and RCEP with reduced tariffs. That makes one Philippine plant a platform for several export markets.
English speaking technical labour
English is an official language and the language of business, contracts, and factory documentation. That removes the translation layer that slows quality audits, compliance work, and engineering change orders in other sourcing regions.
Economic zones with ready infrastructure
PEZA administers hundreds of economic zones with tax holidays, duty free importation of capital equipment, and streamlined permits. Clark, Subic, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, and the Mindanao zones around Davao all host export manufacturing today.
Mindanao as the low cost base
Davao Region pairs lower industrial land costs with the Davao International Container Terminal at Sasa, direct shipping to Singapore, Japan, and Korea, and a deep pool of garment and industrial sewing talent. Tagum City sits an hour north of the port.
Compare the numbers directly: Philippine tax incentives regime, labour wages and talent pool, industrial land costs, and power grid and infrastructure risk.
From Ohio operations to Philippine production lines
RB Advertising has manufactured technical apparel in the Philippines since the 1990s, with production in Tagum City and Cagayan de Oro and export customers across the United States, Europe, and Australia. Central Ohio buyers most often arrive with three needs: industrial workwear for plants and warehouses, branded uniforms for service teams, and technical garments for resale.
Industrial and warehouse workwear
Hi vis shirts, flame resistant coveralls, freezer jackets, and heavy duty trousers built to survive a distribution centre or a battery plant floor. Fabric weights, reflective tape placement, and laundry shrinkage are specified per site.
₱320.00 / about $5.10 / €4.45 / £3.85 Entry unit price, volume dependentCorporate and facility uniforms
Polos, button downs, aprons, lab coats, and hospitality sets with embroidery, screen print, or heat transfer branding. Low minimums start at 20 units per style, which suits a single site rollout or a pilot programme.
₱480.00 / about $7.65 / €6.65 / £5.75 Typical branded polo, volume dependentTechnical apparel for resale
Rash guards, compression wear, cycling kits, and performance tees in moisture wicking knits with sublimation, flatlock stitching, and private label tagging. This is the product line that competes on quality rather than price alone.
₱650.00 / about $10.35 / €9.00 / £7.80 Technical piece, volume dependentRead the sourcing detail on manufacturing workwear, sourcing from the Philippines, and shipping from the Philippines to the United States.
Five steps for a smooth departure from Columbus
Confirm the concourse
Southwest means Concourse A. American, United, or Air Canada means B. Delta, Alaska, or Breeze means C. Check before you park.
Pick your ground transport
The Line 7 bus costs $2.00 and takes about an hour. Rideshare and taxi take 15 minutes and cost $20 to $35 into downtown.
Clear the right checkpoint
Go directly to the checkpoint for your concourse. Do not clear security in B and expect to walk to C airside.
Buffer cross concourse trips
If your booking changes concourse, allow 90 minutes. You will exit, walk landside, and screen again.
Watch the international leg
International arrivals clear in Concourse C. On departure, confirm whether your connection is on one ticket before checking bags through.
Questions travellers and shippers ask about CMH
What is the airport code for Columbus?
The IATA code is CMH and the ICAO code is KCMH. The airport was renamed in 2016 to honour astronaut and US Senator John Glenn, and it was known as Port Columbus before that.
How many terminals does CMH have?
One passenger terminal building with three concourses. Concourse A serves Southwest, Concourse B serves American, United, Air Canada, and Spirit, and Concourse C serves Delta, Alaska, Breeze, Frontier, and Sun Country plus international arrivals.
Can you walk between concourses after security?
No confirmed airside connector exists. Each concourse runs its own TSA checkpoint, so changing concourses means exiting the secure area and screening again. Allow 90 minutes for a cross concourse connection.
Is there a direct flight from Columbus to the Philippines?
No. The shortest practical routing is CMH to Toronto on Air Canada, then Philippine Airlines nonstop to Manila, or CMH to Chicago O'Hare and then the Philippine Airlines nonstop to Manila that began in November 2026. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle also work on one ticket.
How do I get from CMH to downtown Columbus?
COTA Line 7 Mount Vernon stops at the baggage claim level and reaches downtown in about 50 to 60 minutes for $2.00. Rideshare runs $20 to $35 and a metered taxi about $25 to $28, both in roughly 15 minutes outside rush hour. A dedicated express Line 99 is planned for 2028.
Does CMH handle international cargo?
CMH carries belly freight on passenger flights. Dedicated freighter traffic for the region moves through Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), about 12 miles south, which sits inside Foreign Trade Zone 138 with an adjacent Norfolk Southern intermodal terminal.
How long can a US passport holder stay in the Philippines without a visa?
Thirty days on arrival under Executive Order 408, with no advance visa required. Register on eTravel within 72 hours before arrival and carry a passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay. Extensions are filed in country through the Bureau of Immigration if the trip runs longer.
Can I add a holiday to a sourcing trip from Ohio?
Yes, and it usually costs nothing extra in paperwork. The same 30 day entry stamp covers a factory visit and a beach week. Manila, Cebu, and Davao all connect by domestic flight in under two hours, and the Davao Region around our Tagum City plant puts Samal Island and Mount Apo within a short drive.
Planning a trip or a production run from Ohio?
Send your travel dates, flight routing, or apparel specification and our team in Tagum City will reply. Business hours: Mon to Sat, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (PHT).
Airport layout, route, terminal, and parking details are based on the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Fly Columbus, CMH Next, and Central Ohio Transit Authority published information current as of November 2026. Destination, visa, and domestic flight detail follows Philippine Bureau of Immigration, eTravel, and Department of Tourism published information for the same period. Flight schedules, concourse assignments, checkpoint hours, and construction access change frequently. Confirm current details with your airline and the airport authority before departure.