FOX 19 / Payton Marshall / January 28, 2023CINCINNATI (WXIX) -Bengals fans, decked out in Who Dey gear, flew from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Saturday afternoon [CVG announced that they added a nonstop United Airlines flight](https://www.fox19.com/2023/01/23/new-way-bengals-fans-get-kansas-city/) to Kansas City for the AFC Championship game.The flight left at 1 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday and will arrive at 1:50 p.m. Central Time just in time for Sunday’s game.Joe Laugherty is one of the many fans at CVG headed to Kansas City.“Last year, we just felt lucky to be there. This year we expect to win,” Laugherty said.As fans awaited to board their flight, some offered words of wisdom to the team.“Sam Hubbard, maybe you want to do what you did last week, and everybody just play hard and bring home a winner,” Tina Waddell said.“I’m expecting us to come out firing—I want to see five wide, four wide right up the middle with Joe Mixon, and we’re going to crush them. That’s what I want to see,” Nick Pridonoff said.Those fans will leave Monday at 7:45 a.m. Central Time on Monday and will arrive at 10:14 a.m. Eastern Time.The Bengals will play the Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. FOX19 Now will bring all of the latest details on everything Bengals.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.fox19.com/2023/01/28/bengals-fans-fly-cvg-kansas-city-afc-championship-game/)

Cincinnati Enquirer / Candace McGraw / January 18, 2023Over the past several years, we have collectively experienced unimaginable change brought on by the pandemic. All industries were impacted including travel and aviation. However, as we wrapped up 2022, I am pleased to share that the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, CVG, has come roaring back to life − leading the region’s economic rebound along the way.Guided by a strategic plan, New Heights, CVG remains steadfast in our vision that sees the airport as the catalyst to transform our region. We continue to focus on business diversification and economic growth at and beyond the airport for the benefit of all of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.The airport authority and companies doing business at CVG collectively employ more than 16,000 people. With a $6.8 billion annual economic impact, more than 47,000 direct and indirect jobs are supported in the region because of CVG.Air service is critical to our mission − to serve the region’s business and leisure travel needs. Last year, we were pleased that passenger numbers have nearly returned to 2019 levels. Air Canada returned to CVG with service to Toronto while Delta resumed flying to Paris-Charles de Gaulle in August. Frontier restarted service to Philadelphia, Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham while American Airlines announced it will start service to Raleigh-Durham this month− its 12th nonstop destination from CVG.New to CVG, Breeze Airways, announced it will begin service to four markets this year: Charleston, South Carolina; San Francisco, California; Orange County, California; and Providence, Rhode Island. And in November, we were proud to announce that British Airways will begin service to London Heathrow starting this June − a coveted flight that is estimated to have a $57 million economic impact annually.CVG is the epicenter of e-commerce in the United States. As North America’s seventh-largest cargo airport and the world’s 18th-largest, cargo volume grew by 149% between 2015 and 2022. In 2022, CVG continued to be one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in the world. We eclipsed nearly 2 million tons of volume over the past 12 months with DHL and Amazon continuing to grow. This success begets growth in related industries, too. FEAM Aero, an aircraft maintenance company with one hangar and more than 300 employees at CVG already, broke ground on a second hangar last fall − a $47 million investment that will create at least 200 new, good-paying jobs for our community.On the business side of the airport authority, operational excellence remains our focus. Capital investments continue with airfield rehabilitation, upcoming replacement of many jet bridges, improvements to the baggage handling system, and service enhancements at our rental car facility, which has now been in operation for more than a year. We are focused on leading our industry to improve energy efficiency and sustainability, such as bringing sustainable aviation fuel production to our region. We are also committed to innovation and engaging with startups and university talent to deploy new tech that improves the customer experience and advances the future of aviation, such as through advanced air mobility and drones. As operator of the Miami University Airport in Oxford, Ohio, we are also focused on improving the aviation infrastructure and services offered in Butler County and beyond.We close out 2022 having celebrated 75 years of commercial air service at CVG. Since that first commercial flight on Jan. 10, 1947, much has changed. CVG is proud to end the year with region-leading low average airfares, 50-plus nonstop destinations for our community, including several international markets, and continued cargo and economic growth. Our airport is an asset that has helped lead regional recovery coming out of the pandemic. We are proud to serve in this role and will continue these efforts throughout this year and beyond._Candace McGraw is the CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport._[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2023/01/18/opinion-cvg-leading-the-regions-economic-rebound/69774647007/)

WLWT-TV 5 / January 18, 2023HEBRON, Ky. — Travelers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will have another food option starting this summer.CVG announced Wendy's will be opening inside the food court in Concourse B this summer.“This partnership with the Sinkula family-owned franchise brings a new option to CVG travelers,” Candace McGraw, CEO, CVG, said in a statement. “We are pleased to expand concessions, giving travelers more options for a quick bite before their flight.”The new location will also offer Wendy's breakfast in addition to their regular menu.“As a local family-owned and operated business, we are so excited to bring Wendy’s to CVG," said Jessie Sinkula Aston, Co-President, Sinkula. "Our goal is for our customers to have an easy, fast, and tailored dining experience while enjoying the fresh-made, craveable Wendy’s food they love when they travel.”[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wlwt.com/article/wendys-opening-cvg-airport-this-summer/42554513)

WVXU / Ann Thompson / January 16, 2023The Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is looking to lower passenger stress levels in 2023 through innovation. Robots[CVG lays claim to be the first to try “Grab and Go” robots which serve travelers in Concourse B.](https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2023/01/10-tech-trends-that-will-shape-passenger-experiences-and-business-performance-in-2023/) (now Pittsburgh and Rome, Italy have them) Customers order from a mobile app and the robot brings food right to the gate.“Not everybody has the ability to stop at Trip Advisor, grab a couple of items and be on your way.” Airport Spokesperson Mindy Kershner says some people are unable to rush around the airport. CVG looks to expand the number of restaurants and concessions participating this year. Self-driving baggage tractors[ThorDrive](https://www.thordrive.ai/) has been testing its autonomous vehicles at CVG since the beginning of 2021. The self-driving baggage tractors could eventually transport passenger luggage to and from aircraft, [as WVXU reported](https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2021-02-01/autonomous-vehicles-making-their-debut-at-cvg).CVG’s Kershner says, “The next step for us is to work with our tenant airlines and hopefully adopt and scale up a fleet of autonomous vehicles.”Touchless technologies and biometricsThere could be a day when CVG doesn’t have kiosks. Kershner says the airport is looking into doing more with passenger phones. This could involve verifying identity, making secure payments and eliminating any printing.When Kershner was flying to Canada she had to get her face scanned. It’s possible CVG could do some biometric testing this year. Air Canada is one airline that uses it.Shortening lines with dataA complicated computer formula may be the reason you might see fewer bottlenecks.Layer by layer, the airport is adding pieces to its predictive passenger persona, the most recent of which is the University of Cincinnati’s artificial intelligence. The two have signed an agreement to work together on crowd prediction.Engineer Javier Viaña, was already seeing results [when WVXU interviewed him in March, 2022](https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/focus-on-technology/2022-03-07/cvg-ai-predict-passenger-movement).That data is plugged into CVG’s EASE system — or Enterprise Assets Situational Exceptions — a patent-pending hardware and software program the airport began using in 2019.Viaña’s program applies artificial intelligence to the system because there are so many variables like: Will passengers park a car? Will they check a bag? Are they with a group? When will they get food? Does a business traveler going to Orlando arrive the same time as a family of five?Using fuzzy logic, which is a kind of computer decision-making that relies on degrees of truth, it can predict surges of passengers in 15-minute increments. New airlines and destinationsBy April, Breeze Airways will start flying to Charleston, S.C., Providence R.I., and San Francisco and Orange County, Calif. Direct flights to London on British Airways begin June 5. CVG is also trying to do deals with airlines for greater capacity and additional destinations.Kershner says, “We have an amount of opportunity for existing and potential carriers to destinations in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We also have several domestic markets we’re working to restore such as St. Louis, Kansas City, San Diego and others.”CVG says it caters to both business and leisure travelers and a [new category “bleisure](https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2022/06/27/what-is-bleisure-travel-and-how-is-it-transforming-the-hospitality-industry/?sh=259b97647231).” With remote work, more people are combining business and leisure or just hopping a flight to work from someplace with better weather.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2023-01-16/cvg-new-airlines-new-flights-new-technology)

Cincinnati Enquirer / Emily DeLetter / January 13, 2023There will soon be a new place to grab a cold one before boarding a flight at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.Construction has already begun on a taproom from Braxton Brewing Co., which is set to open inside CVG's Concourse A this spring.“We expect our passenger volumes to grow in the coming years, and with more travelers, comes the need for more food and beverage options,” Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG, said in a release. “We are pleased to welcome Braxton to CVG because we know travelers like to see and experience local flavors and brands in the airport.” Once open, the 1,500-square-foot space will offer another food and beverage option for travelers. The menu options have not yet been announced, although both Braxton's signature beers and seasonal offerings will be available.“Creating a unique experience for our taproom guests is something we love doing. Now, with the addition of our taproom in CVG, that’s an experience we’ll be able to create for both locals and those traveling through,” Jake Rouse, Co-Founder and CEO of Braxton Brewing Co, said in a release. "It’s important to us that this new taproom, just like our others, be a place where visitors can enjoy a craft beer and truly ‘lift one to life’.”[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2023/01/13/braxton-brewing-to-open-taproom-in-cvg-airport-concourse-a-this-spring/69804992007/)

WCPO / Molly Schramm / January 12, 2023HEBRON, Ky. — Covington, Cincinnati, Fort Mitchell, a forthcoming Union location and now CVG.Braxton Brewing Co. has surely made its mark on the Greater Cincinnati area, and it's not stopping, spreading its wings even further with a brand new location inside CVG airport.Located in Concourse A, flyers departing or arriving at CVG will be able to sip on Braxton's brews inside the airport.The location is currently under construction. Once complete, the taproom will take up 1,500 square feet.The exact opening date for the taproom hasn't been announced, but it's slated for spring 2023.“We expect our passenger volumes to grow in the coming years, and with more travelers, comes the need for more food and beverage options,” said Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG. “We are pleased to welcome Braxton to CVG because we know travelers like to see and experience local flavors and brands in the airport.”The full food and drink menu for the CVG location has yet to be revealed, but it will feature signature Braxton beers as well as seasonal offerings.Braxton began in Union, [where another taproom attached to a Dewey's Pizza and Graeter's Ice Cream is planned](https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/boone-county/union/graeters-and-braxton-brewery-opening-union-locations-with-new-development). The opening date for that development — which spans 5.6 acres and also features another retail shop and outdoor space — is set for some time between 2023 and 2024."Creating a unique experience for our taproom guests is something we love doing. Now, with the addition of our taproom in CVG, that’s an experience we’ll be able to create for both locals and those traveling through," said Jake Rouse, co-founder and CEO of Braxton Brewing Co. "It’s important to us that this new taproom, just like our others, be a place where visitors can enjoy a craft beer and truly 'lift one to life.'"[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/boone-county/hebron/braxton-brewing-co-spreading-its-wings-opening-taproom-inside-cvg)

Cincinnati Business Courier / Chris Wetterich / December 28, 2022Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport continues to send staggering amounts of cargo airborne from its runways, setting a new all-time record in October. It's a trend that could continue as the holiday shipping season reaches it peaks.Companies moved 190,562 tons of cargo through the airport in October, up from the previous all-time record set in September of 180,184. It’s the third month in a row CVG has broken the record.Overall, cargo volume is up 18.2%, year over year, for 2022.“I can’t say enough about how cargo does tremendous things,” said Bobby Spann, the airport’s vice president for external affairs.CVG remains the seventh-largest cargo airport in North America, with Miami being No. 5 and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport being sixth.Cargo [makes up an increasing amount of the airport’s landed weight](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/19/cargo-is-king-at-cvg.html), a key metric for CVG’s finances because airlines pay a fee for how many tons they bring into the airport. CVG charges about $2.25 for every thousand pounds of landed weight. In October, cargo accounted for 69% of the airport’s landed weight, an all-time high. Before the pandemic, the mix was closer to 55% cargo, 45% passenger.CVG’s two main cargo players are DHL, which has its North American superhub at CVG, and Amazon, whose $1.5 billion Prime Air U.S. hub opened in 2021. FedEx also has a presence. Diversifying the airport’s mix of both passenger carriers, as well as its passenger-cargo mix and real estate leases have been a major growth strategy over the past decade.For the past four years, CVG has been one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in the United States. The airport has 115 cargo plane parking spots and 890 acres devoted to cargo hubs.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/12/28/cvg-cargo-october-record.html)

WVXU / Ann Thompson / December 19, 2022Friday, Dec. 23 and the Mondays of Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 are expected to be the busiest travel days in the next few weeks. Here's how to get around with ease.Crowded interstates and busy airports are just part of getting where you're going this holiday season. AAA expects travel will be back to pre-pandemic levels next year, and we’re pretty close this year."Nearly 113 million people around the country will be traveling," says AAA's Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager. "Here in Ohio, 4.7 million will be traveling."The busiest travel days are expected to be Dec. 23, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.The Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) says it's already at pre-pandemic levels. Spokesperson Mindy Kershner says 400,000 people will come in and out of the airport doors over the next two weeks.However, most people will drive, and the fact that gas prices are coming down, Hitchens says, is a gift. Still, [the possibility of snow](https://www.wcpo.com/weather/snow-and-high-winds-coming-soon) has the potential to throw a wrench in any travel plans. She suggests [looking at the weather](https://www.wvxu.org/news-from-npr/2022-12-19/arctic-air-will-blast-much-of-the-u-s-just-before-christmas-forecasters-say) as you head into the weekend and also checking for any potential construction.Early is better"Arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled flight departure," Kershner says. "I know we say that a lot, but even more so this time of year. You don't want to risk missing your flight and feel too rushed."She suggests checking in online at home and get familiar with TSA guidelines.One important guideline this holiday is not to wrap any presents you are taking in your checked luggage or carry-on. [The TSA says it may have to unwrap them if they are suspicious.](https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/12/15/tsa-advises-travelers-check-packing-list-twice-know-whether-contents)On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at CVG, the USO and the Honor Flight will wrap your presents for free on the secure side of the airport.Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting Thursday from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at the terminal. There is also a lit menorah on the baggage claim level.Where are people going?"Lots of warm destinations," says Kershner. "We have all those flights to Florida. So, Orlando, Tampa, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale."Javier Espinoza was taking his family to Mexico Monday. "We scheduled a trip to Cancún about three years ago. Due to the pandemic, we didn’t get to travel, but now with the travel, we’re going to go have some margaritas," he laughs.What could make this holiday travel season more challenging than most is people will be driving and flying for an extended period. "We expect people are going to be traveling the whole time," Hitchens says. "So, some people are going to get away for Christmas, some people are going to get away for New Year's and some people are going to get away for both."[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2022-12-19/dont-wrap-presents-travel-advice-tsa-holiday)

Cincinnati Enquirer / Emily DeLetter / December 7, 2022Breeze Airways is adding two new nonstop destinations from the [Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport](/home).The airline announced its [launch at CVG in October with two destinations](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/10/19/breeze-airways-to-fly-to-charleston-and-san-francisco-from-cvg/69573524007/), starting service in February.Now, the budget airline announced it will also begin flights from CVG to Orange County, California, and Providence, Rhode Island. One-way tickets will cost $59 if purchased by Dec. 13 for travel by Sept. 5. The airline will launch the routes on March 30 and flights will be every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.Tickets come in three categories: nice, standard seats; nicer, seats with extra legroom; and nicest, first-class seats.More new flights: [CVG launching direct flight to London with British Airways next year](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/11/16/british-airways-cvg-airport-london-heathrow-direct-flight/69653464007/)When it launches CVG service on Feb. 8, [Breeze will begin routes from CVG to Charleston, South Carolina, and San Francisco](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/10/19/breeze-airways-to-fly-to-charleston-and-san-francisco-from-cvg/69573524007/) on Wednesdays and Saturdays.“Breeze always looks for underserved routes where we can add nonstop flights, low fares and our brand of Seriously Nice service,” Tom Doxey, Breeze Airways’ president said in a release. “Today we’re excited to announce more service from Cincinnati before we’ve even flown our first flight from the airport.”[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/12/07/breeze-airways-cvg-flights-orange-county-providence/69707607007/)