Lufthansa to Launch Columbus's First Nonstop Flight to Europe
Thrice-weekly flights starting in May 2027 will link John Glenn Columbus International Airport to Frankfurt.
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Lufthansa Airlines, JobsOhio and One Columbus announced that Central Ohio's first nonstop flight to Europe will launch in May 2027, connecting John Glenn Columbus International Airport with Frankfurt Airport in Germany announced.
Ticket bookings for the route are scheduled to open Tuesday, Oct. 20 bookings open. Service will operate three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with flights departing Columbus at 4:20 p.m. and arriving in Frankfurt at 6:15 a.m. local time route schedule.
Lufthansa will operate the service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring its Allegris cabin experience, including 28 lie-flat business class seats, 28 premium economy seats and 231 economy seats, for a total of 287 seats aircraft configuration.
The route builds on JobsOhio’s Air Service Restoration program, which works with airports, regional partners and airlines to establish routes that are important to economic development air service program. Through the program, JobsOhio and regional partners share revenue guarantees that reduce the risk for airlines launching new service revenue guarantees. JobsOhio has committed $36.8 million in revenue guarantees alongside $10.1 million from local partners program funding.
The flight will provide connectivity for the 38 German-based companies operating in the Columbus region regional employers. Statewide, Germany is the third-largest source of international investment in Ohio, behind only Japan and Canada, with more than 750 German-owned business establishments operating in Ohio and supporting approximately 41,000 jobs across the state economic ties. Corporate ties include Bayer, which is building a new pharmaceutical manufacturing site in New Albany bayer project.
CMH Next is a $2 billion transformation of John Glenn Columbus International Airport anchored by a brand-new terminal transformation. The project replaces the existing facility built in 1958 facility replacement. The new terminal is scheduled to open in early 2029 opening timeline.
Video Watch video 0:48
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (10)
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Lufthansa Airlines, JobsOhio and One Columbus announced that Central Ohio's first nonstop flight to Europe will launch in May 2027, connecting John Glenn Columbus International Airport with Frankfurt Airport in Germany announced.
Read supporting passage
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Lufthansa Airlines, JobsOhio and One Columbus today announced that Central Ohio's first nonstop flight to Europe will launch in May 2027, connecting John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) with Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany.
Ticket bookings for the route are scheduled to open Tuesday, Oct. 20 bookings open.
Read supporting passage
The CMH-FRA route will begin operating in May 2027, with bookings available beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20. Service will operate three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights will depart Columbus at 4:20 p.m. and arrive in Frankfurt at 6:15 a.m. (local times).
Service will operate three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with flights departing Columbus at 4:20 p.m. and arriving in Frankfurt at 6:15 a.m. local time route schedule.
Read supporting passage
The CMH-FRA route will begin operating in May 2027, with bookings available beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20. Service will operate three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights will depart Columbus at 4:20 p.m. and arrive in Frankfurt at 6:15 a.m. (local times).
Lufthansa will operate the service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring its Allegris cabin experience, including 28 lie-flat business class seats, 28 premium economy seats and 231 economy seats, for a total of 287 seats aircraft configuration.
Read supporting passage
Lufthansa will operate the service with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring the airline's Allegris cabin experience, including 28 lie-flat business class seats, 28 premium economy seats and 231 economy seats, for a total of 287 seats.
The route builds on JobsOhio’s Air Service Restoration program, which works with airports, regional partners and airlines to establish routes that are important to economic development air service program.
Read supporting passage
The new route builds on the success of JobsOhio’s Air Service Restoration program, which works with airports, regional partners and airlines to establish routes that are important to economic development.
Through the program, JobsOhio and regional partners share revenue guarantees that reduce the risk for airlines launching new service revenue guarantees.
Read supporting passage
Through the program, JobsOhio and regional partners share revenue guarantees that reduce the risk for airlines launching new service.
JobsOhio has committed $36.8 million in revenue guarantees alongside $10.1 million from local partners program funding.
Read supporting passage
JobsOhio has committed $36.8 million in revenue guarantees, alongside $10.1 million from local partners.
The flight will provide connectivity for the 38 German-based companies operating in the Columbus region regional employers.
Read supporting passage
The flight will provide unprecedented connectivity for the 38 German-based companies operating in the Columbus Region and further support all German companies investing in Ohio and employing thousands of Ohioans across the state.
Statewide, Germany is the third-largest source of international investment in Ohio, behind only Japan and Canada, with more than 750 German-owned business establishments operating in Ohio and supporting approximately 41,000 jobs across the state economic ties.
Read supporting passage
Germany is the third-largest source of international investment in Ohio, behind only Japan and Canada. More than 750 German-owned business establishments operate in Ohio, second only to Japan, according to the Ohio Department of Development, and German companies support approximately 41,000 jobs across the state, according to the Transatlantic Economy 2025 report.
Corporate ties include Bayer, which is building a new pharmaceutical manufacturing site in New Albany bayer project.
Read supporting passage
Bayer’s investment in Central Ohio reflects our confidence in this region’s talent, momentum and long-term potential. As we build our new pharmaceutical manufacturing site in New Albany, close collaboration with our colleagues in Germany is essential.
https://flycolumbus.com/traffic-pattern-changes-as-terminal-construction-continues/
Supporting evidence (3)
CMH Next is a $2 billion transformation of John Glenn Columbus International Airport anchored by a brand-new terminal transformation.
Read supporting passage
CMH Next is the $2 billion transformation of John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), anchored by a brand-new, nearly 1-million-square-foot terminal
The project replaces the existing facility built in 1958 facility replacement.
Read supporting passage
Replacing the existing facility built in 1958, this once-in-a-generation project will increase daily passenger capacity by more than 50% and feature a single, centralized concourse to provide a seamless and intuitive travel experience.
The new terminal is scheduled to open in early 2029 opening timeline.
Read supporting passage
Scheduled to open in early 2029, the new terminal will serve as a modern, first-class gateway, enhancing the passenger experience for generations to come.