Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
IATA: CVG – ICAO: KCVG – FAA LID: CVG CVG Location of CVG
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Kenton County Airport Board
Serves		Cincinnati, Ohio
Location		Hebron, Kentucky
Hub for		Delta Air Lines Polar Air Cargo
Elevation AMSL		896 ft / 273 m
Website		www.cvgairport.com
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
9/27	12,000	3,658	Asphalt/Concrete
18C/36C	11,000	3,353	Asphalt/Concrete
18L/36R	10,000	3,048	Concrete
18R/36L	8,000	2,438	Concrete
Statistics (2009)
Aircraft operations			247,732
Based aircraft			13
Sources: Airport website[1] and FAA[2]

Runway layout at CVG

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (IATA: CVG, ICAO: KCVG), sometimes called the Greater Cincinnati Airport is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are governed by the neighboring Kenton County Airport Board. The airport's code, CVG, comes from the nearest major city at the time of its opening, Covington, Kentucky. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport covers an area of 7,000 acres (28 km²).

History

The first airplane landed at the airport January 10, 1947. It was an American Airlines DC-3 from Cleveland, Ohio, touching down at 9:53am. That flight was then followed by a Delta Air Lines flight moments later. ^[3]

Jet Age

The 1960s brought the jet age to the world. On December 16, 1960, a Delta Air Lines Convair 880 began its first regularly scheduled flight into Cincinnati. After the Jet Age arrived the airport needed to expand to newer more modern terminals and other airport needs. The original Terminal A was expanded and renovated. The north south runway was expanded from 3,100 feet to 8,600 feet. In 1964, the board approved a $12 million bond. This bond was used to expand the south concourse of A by 32,000 feet. This provided nine gates for TWA, American, and Delta. In 1971, the construction of a new east-west runway which crossed the longer north-south runway. In the mid-1980s, Delta created a new hub in Cincinnati. This hub eventually grew to be Delta's second largest, handling over 600 flights of Delta, and Delta Connection in 2005.

Delta hub cuts

After Delta merged with Northwest Airlines in 2008, the airline began to cut flight capacity from the Cincinnati hub.^[4] In October 2009, Delta announced another 10 percent cut of flight capacity out of the CVG hub^[5]. Delta announced that it will cut flights in February 2010 to 5 cities. It will leave CVG from 140 destinations to only 70 destinations (including both those mainline and 'DL connection' flights).^[6].Today, many businesses in Cincinnati want Delta to re-establish the service it once had in the late '90's/early 2000s, and some have already relocated to other cities with more prominent airports. The rescheduling of flights has also left the airport in what is described as a "mess" by some people—flights are scheduled in morning and afternoon blocks, in which very large numbers of flights are scheduled to take off at the same time. The only remaining intercontinental service by Delta is a daily departure to Paris in the evening, but many business analysts speculate that this flight's days are also numbered in the future. Air France canceled its operation out of CVG in 2007 due to Delta making cuts back then. In January 2010 Delta's CEO Richard Anderson anticipated that there will be 160-170 daily departures in the summer and that the number should not change until at least the fall schedule.^[7][8] Delta closed Concourse A in Terminal 3 on May 1st, 2010, and consolidated all operations into Concourse B. This resulted in the layoff of more than 800 employees. Delta, however, says that it will maintain the same amount of departures from CVG^[9].

Facilities

The airport's terminal/remote-concourse configuration, combined with simultaneous triple landing/takeoff capabilities, makes CVG a particularly efficient airport for flight operations. CVG is the fifth largest hub of Delta Air Lines and is the central hub of Delta's wholly-owned subsidiary airline, Comair, which provides regional jet service under the Delta Connection banner. As such, the airport serves an important role in Delta's midwest hub-and-spoke system. In recent years, Delta Air Lines has considerably pared down the amount of flights out of the Cincinnati hub and in August 2008 announced it would be moving all of its Comair flights to Concourses A and B and closed all operations in Concourse C in January 2009. Then in February 2010 Delta announced, it would close Concourse A in May 2010, and would consolidate, all Delta, Delta Connection, and Comair flights to Concourse B. It took a dramatic fall on the airport because, more than 800 employee jobs were cut. The Cincinnati Airport People Mover now goes directly to Concourse B from Terminal 3, in both directions. ^[10]

The airport has three terminals, though only two are in use. Terminal 1 closed down on January 16, 2007. It is currently being used by the airport for administrative offices. Until recently, it was served only by US Airways Express. American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines and US Airways all operate in Terminal 2. Terminal 3, built specifically for Delta, has two remote concourses (not including the aforementioned Concourse C) connected by an underground train system, and a Airport Shuttle Bus to Concourse C. Terminal 3 is served by Delta and its regional affiliates. Terminal 3 is the only terminal with US customs and immigration facilities in Concourse B. All International Arrivals except, U.S. border preclearance are handled in the Mezzanine Level of Concourse B. Terminal 3 is also served by USA3000 Airlines, who predominantly serve international destinations.

Concourse B in Terminal 3 is well known for its extra wide space, high ceilings, large windows with views of the airfield, and natural lighting during the day. All Delta, Delta Connection, and Comair flights all operate, in and out of Concourse B. Concourse A closed on May 1st, 2010 consolidating all flights to Concourse B. The Cincinnati Airport People Mover skips the Concourse A station with only 1 train running.

The airport currently operates four paved runways:

• Runway 9/27: 12,000 x 150 ft. (3,658 x 46 m), Asphalt/Concrete
• Runway 18C/36C: 11,000 x 150 ft. (3,353 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
• Runway 18L/36R: 10,000 x 150 ft. (3,048 x 46 m), Surface: Concrete
• Runway 18R/36L: 8,000 x 150 ft. (2,438 x 46 m), Surface: Concrete

Employment

In addition to hundreds of ground staff employees, Delta has a flight attendant base and a pilot base for the MD-88,and Boeing 737-800. Delta's regional carriers (Comair, ASA, Mesaba, Pinnacle, SkyWest, Freedom, and Chautauqua) also have pilot and flight attendant bases. In total, over 1,000 people are employed at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. Delta operates Airbus A319/A320 aircraft into CVG, because of the merger and shift changes.

Skyclub

Delta operates one Sky Club, in Concourse B. Delta, until recently, also had a Business Elite lounge. Though the lounge was closed, the furniture and space is now used as a military lounge for departing and arriving military personnel and their families. Food and drinks are provided. The airport on average sees 100 soldiers pass through each day.

Terminals

Terminal 1

Because of its temporary conversion to Airport Administration, Terminal 1 currently does not have any commercial carriers. A few low-cost carriers have viewed the terminal for a potential operations center.

Terminal 2

This is a small, eight-gate terminal from the 1970s. It is used by Air Canada, American, Continental, United, and US Airways. This terminal has very few post security amenities. After Security there are restrooms, a news stand, and a bagel shop.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 has three concourses. Concourse C (which housed the Comair gates) was closed on January 1, 2009. Concourses B, now housing all Terminal 3 airlines, are reached by an underground train. Terminal 3's ticket area was completed in 1994 as well as concourse B. The other two concourses were completed at different times. The newest concourse was C until its closing in 2009. Terminal 3 is used by Delta Air Lines and USA3000 Airlines. Concourse A closed on May 1, 2010 and all Delta and Delta Connection flights moved to Concourse B^[11].

Security Checkpoint in Terminal 3

The Terminal 3 Security Checkpoint is upstairs on the Ticketing Level. This new, expandable checkpoint opened in November 2009. After clearing security, passengers can take escalators or elevators down to the Cincinnati Airport People Mover that departs to Concourse B. Arriving passengers still exit the terminal the same way towards Ground Transportation and Baggage Claim by taking escalators or elevators to the baggage claim level.

Airlines and destinations

• Notice; All Terminal 3 Flights are in Concourse B, Gates B1 through B39

Ground Transportation

TANK provides a route from the Airport to Downtown Cincinnati on the 2X Route. Rental Cars are provided by Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, National, Budget, and Enterprise for people, that are looking for rental cars. Terminals 2, and 3 have Short Term Parking Garages. The Short Term Parking is named by fruit. Level 1- Orange, Level 2- Lemon, Level 3- Lime, Level 4- Cherry, and Level 5- Grape. Long Term Parking is separated from the terminal, so everyone has to take a shuttle from the terminals to get to the Long Term Parking.

Cargo

• Ameriflight
• DHL Worldwide Express
• Polar Air Cargo
• Airborne Express
• FedEx

Facts

Statistics

For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009, the airport had 247,732 aircraft operations, an average of 678 per day: 69% air taxi, 28% scheduled commercial, 2% general aviation and <1% military.^[2]

The apron as seen from Terminal 2. In the foreground is an American Eagle Embraer E-135

Pricing

CVG consistently ranks among the most expensive major airports in the United States.^[13] Delta and its subsidiary Comair operate over 88% of flights at CVG, a fact often cited as a reason for relatively high domestic ticket prices.^[14] Airline officials have suggested that Delta practices predatory pricing to drive away discount airlines.^[13][15] From 1990 to 2003, ten discount airlines began service at CVG, only to later pull out,^[16] including Vanguard Airlines, which pulled out of CVG twice.^[17] Delta maintains that its pricing is reasonable, considering the increased connectivity and non-stop flights that a hub airport offers a market the size of Cincinnati.^[16]

According to a study commissioned by CVG, 18% of Cincinnati-area residents use one of five nearby airports – Dayton, Louisville, Port Columbus, Indianapolis, or Blue Grass (Lexington) – instead of CVG, primarily because residents can save nearly 50% on the price of airfares found locally at one of these other airports.^[16]

In a bid to boost local ridership and make CVG more competitive with surrounding airports, Delta Air Lines announced a large-scale fare reduction on February 6, 2009.^[18]

Industrial murals

The airport is home to 14 large Art Deco murals that were originally created for the Cincinnati Union Terminal during the Great Depression. Mosaic murals depicting people at work in local Cincinnati workplaces were incorporated into the interior design of the railroad station by Winold Reiss, a German-born artist with a reputation in interior design.

When one Concourse of the Station was designated for demolition in 1972, a "Save the Terminal Committee" raised funds to remove and transport the 14 murals in the concourse to new locations in the Airport. They were placed in Terminal 1, and in Terminals 2 and 3, which were then being constructed as part of a major airport expansion and renovation.

The murals were also featured in a scene in the film Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. In addition, a walkway to one of the terminals at CVG was featured in the scene in the film when Hoffman's character Raymond refused to fly on a plane.

Notable accidents

• On January 12, 1955 a TWA Flight 1955-01-12 to Cleveland Martin 202a was in the take off phase of departure from the airport when it collided with a privately owned Castleton Farms DC-3. The mid-air collision killed 13 people on the commercial airliner and 2 on the privately owned plane.

• On November 14, 1961, a Zantop cargo flight, a DC-4, crashed near runway 18 into an apple orchard. The crew survived.

• On November 8, 1965, American Airlines Flight 383, a Boeing 727, crashed on approach to runway 18, killing 58 (53 passengers and 5 crew) of the 62 (56 passengers and 6 crew) on board.

• On November 6, 1967, TWA Flight 159, a Boeing 707, over-ran the runway during an aborted takeoff, injuring 11 of the 29 passengers. One of the injured passengers died four days later. The seven crew members were unhurt.

• On November 20, 1967, TWA Flight 128, a Convair 880, crashed on approach to runway 18, killing 70 (65 passengers and 5 crew) of the 82 persons aboard (75 passengers and 7 crew).

• On October 8, 1979, Comair Flight 444, a Piper Navajo, crashed shortly after takeoff . Seven passengers and the pilot were killed.

• On June 2, 1983, Air Canada Flight 797, a DC-9 flying on a Houston-Dallas-Toronto-Montreal route, made an emergency landing at Cincinnati due to a cabin fire. Twenty-three of the 41 passengers died of smoke inhalation or fire injuries, including legendary Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers. All five crew members survived.

• On August 13, 2004, Air Tahoma Flight 185, a Convair 580, was en-route to Cincinnati from Memphis, Tennessee, carrying freight under contract for DHL Worldwide Express. The aircraft crashed on a golf course just south of the Cincinnati airport due to fuel starvation and dual engine failure, killing the first officer and injuring the captain.

See also

• Ohio World War II Army Airfields
• Kentucky World War II Army Airfields

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

• Historical Images of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport
• History of the Industrial Murals
• Mural images and location map
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective 23 Sep 2010
• FAA Terminal Procedures for CVG, effective 23 Sep 2010
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KCVG
  • ASN accident history for CVG
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KCVG
  • FAA current CVG delay information