WLWT-TV 5 / September 21, 2021The first Honor Flight in two years will be taking off from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Tuesday.Honor Flights have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but are making a return this year.Greater Cincinnati veterans and their guardians will get to see their memorials in Washington and participate in ceremonies that honor their service to their country. Their trip on Tuesday will include visits to the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Iwo Jima, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the US Air Force Memorial and other Washington sights.[Video and Full Story Here](https://www.wlwt.com/article/greater-cincinnati-veterans-cvg-airport-first-honor-flight-in-2-years/37668725)

WXIX-TV 19 / September 21, 2021A special flight that allows veterans to visit their memorials in Washington, DC is returning to CVG Airport. Airport officials on Monday announced the return of the Honor Flight, whose sole mission is to fly veterans 65 and older, whether they served stateside or overseas, to the memorials at no cost. The flight is the first of its kind from CVG in two years following a hiatus due to COVID-19. The trip resumed Tuesday with a 7:30 a.m. flight following a 5:45 a.m. send-off ceremony.The ceremony featured bagpipes from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, a TSA color guard ceremony and other special remarks.The return flight will arrive at 8:35 p.m.The veterans on the flight are from Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.Each veteran will be accompanied by a guardian.[Video and Full Story Here.](https://www.fox19.com/2021/09/20/honor-flight-returns-cvg-airport/)

Erlanger, KY (August 23, 2021) – In February 2021, you may recall the harrowing dash to deliver an organ from CVG Airport to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center during a major snowstorm. CVG Airport’s first responders who reacted swiftly and courageously were recently recognized by the American Association of Airport Executives “for valor and commitment to excellence in the field of aircraft fire fighting and rescue services.” Coordination with partners like the Kenton County Dispatch and Cincinnati Police Department were also commended. Firefighter Jason Bauman accepted the recognition in July 2021 for personally delivering the organ and transplant team safely during a major snowstorm with 55 minutes to spare.Background: The medical flight was intended for Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport but was forced to divert to CVG Airport due to winter weather. The organ and three surgeons on board the aircraft needed to be transported to the hospital within two hours. It was rush hour and heavy snow was blanketing the area. The CVG Fire Department coordinated with others to determine the best route and receive an escort to the hospital. Normally a 25-minute trip, the team arrived in 65 minutes after maneuvering through snow-covered expressway shoulders.Responders: Chief Steve Listerman, Captain Jeff Goshorn, Firefighter Jason Baumann, Fire/Medic Greg Holian, Firefighter Casey Jones, Firefighter Michael Nienaber, Firefighter Zack Smith, Fire/Medic Sean TilleyAbout CVG AirportCVG Airport welcomed more than 9.1 million passengers in 2019, serving a record number of local passengers. As the airport recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, it still offers the most nonstop destinations and the lowest average airfares in the region. CVG is diversified in both passenger and cargo operations with an annual economic impact of $6.8 billion. It is the 7th largest cargo airport in North America – home to Amazon Air’s primary U.S. Hub and DHL Express Global Superhub. Learn more at [CVGairport.com](https://cvgairport.com/).

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and the Centurion® Studio Partner have reopened the Escape Lounge located in Concourse B. Escape Lounge at CVG will continue to offer the same unlimited premium amenities as before, including the freshly prepared food and beverage guests have grown to know and love. Daily hours of operation are currently 5:30 am to 3pm. Guests are encouraged to check the website before their travels for current hours of operation at [EscapeLounges.com](https://escapelounges.com/us/locations/cincinnati-northern-kentucky/).   To combat the spread of Covid-19, Escape Lounge CVG is following the guidance of state and local health requirements as well as adding their own safety protocols, which include required face masks for staff and guests, following of a thorough sanitizing schedule for all surfaces, contactless entry, social distancing measures, contactless food and drink menus and offering digital access to over 7,000 publications such as GQ, Vogue, Newsweek and USA Today through PressReader. Access to Escape Lounge CVG remains open to all travelers regardless of airline or status for $40 if booked in advance at EscapeLounges.com or $45 if paid at the door. American Express Platinum and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve\ Card Members receive complimentary access. In addition, American Express Green Card Members receive up to a $100 statement credit per calendar year for lounge access booked through LoungeBuddy. _\Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members must be traveling on a Delta marketed flight that day._ About Escape LoungesEscape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner are all-inclusive premium airport lounges open to all travellers. Guests entering the lounge receive unlimited amenities that include hot and cold food and beverages, plush and relaxing seating with ample power outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi, up-to-the-second flight information and access to 7,000+ digital publications in 60+ languages from 120+ countries. [EscapeLounges.com](https://www.escapelounges.com/us/)Media Contacts:Escape Lounges PR & Marketing: Erica Bauer | [Erica.Bauer@magairports.com](mailto:Erica.Bauer@magairports.com)CVG Airport: Mindy Kershner | [mkershner@cvgairport.com](mailto:mkershner@cvgairport.com)

_The $1.5 billion investment at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will serve as Amazon Air’s primary U.S. hub for its air cargo network_ _Millions of customer packages will be processed per week at the 600-acre campus_ SEATTLE—(BUSINESS WIRE)—August 11, 2021—Today, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced the beginning of Amazon Air Hub operations at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). After more than four years of planning and construction, the Amazon Air Hub will serve as the central hub for Amazon Air’s U.S. cargo network, facilitating the rapid transport of customer packages across the country. This $1.5 billion investment in Northern Kentucky will eventually create thousands of jobs for people from various backgrounds, including load planning, management of package sortation, and robotics technology. All regular, full-time employees will have access to Amazon’s industry-leading wages of up to $19.50 per hour; comprehensive benefits including medical, vision, and dental; and a 401(k) beginning on day one.“Wonderful communities and diverse teams like this are the heart and soul of our operations,” said Vice President of Amazon Global Air Sarah Rhoads. “We’re excited to get rolling in Northern Kentucky, and we’re thrilled to employ thousands of fantastic people from the area in this next-generation, highly sophisticated facility that will connect our air cargo network for years to come.”The 800,000-square-foot sortation building sits on a 600-acre campus that features seven buildings, an expansive new ramp for aircraft parking, and a multi-story vehicle parking structure. The sortation facility is equipped with the innovative use of robotics technology that helps move and sort packages—including robotic arms and mobile drive units that transport packages across the building—miles of interlinked conveyors, and ergonomic workstations that support a comfortable work environment for employees. The building will also feature a solar rooftop scheduled for installation over the next year, and all energy generated from the panels will feed directly into the electrical grid of the local community.“The Amazon Air Hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will make Kentucky the undisputed national leader in air cargo,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “In addition to creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, this hub puts Kentucky at the center of Amazon’s U.S. distribution network. Across the coming years, Amazon Air will help attract more manufacturers, service providers, and tech companies to Kentucky seeking to take similar advantage of our key geographic location. Congratulations and thanks to Amazon for this monumental investment in our state and workforce. We look forward to continuing the commonwealth’s longstanding and successful partnership with Amazon for decades to come.”“CVG is proud to be home to Amazon Air’s primary U.S. air cargo hub,” said Chief Executive Officer of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Candace McGraw. “We’ve worked hard to ensure our airport is a great place to do business, and we couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Amazon on the transformational impact this hub is having and will continue to have on our local economy well into the future, from job creation to innovation and increased connection to the country.”Amazon Air continues to expand globally to meet the needs of its growing customer base while investing in jobs and sustainable solutions to power its network. Amazon Air has expanded its presence in the U.S. to more than 40 locations and launched its European air hub in 2020 at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport. Amazon Air has also purchased six million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel and invested in leading-edge electric ground service equipment.Amazon has invested in the region for many years; the most recent investment is a state-of-the-art diagnostics laboratory in Hebron, Kentucky, that processed millions of COVID-19 tests for front-line employees and recently expanded testing capability to support customers. Amazon has created more than 18,000 jobs in Kentucky since 2010 and invested more than $20 billion across the state, both in infrastructure and compensation for local employees. These investments have contributed an additional $18 billion to the Kentucky economy and have helped create over 49,000 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires—from jobs in construction and logistics to professional services. Amazon also announced in July a commitment to hire over 100,000 U.S. veterans and military spouses by 2024, and has pledged to invest over $700 million to provide upskilling training for 100,000 U.S. employees for in-demand jobs across the company’s corporate offices, tech hubs, fulfillment centers, retail stores, and transportation network, or even to pursue career paths in high-demand fields outside of Amazon.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: [Launch your career at KCVG](https://www.amazondelivers.jobs/promotions/aircvg/) [Amazon’s expansion in Kentucky](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazons-expansion-in-kentucky) [Promoting a more sustainable future through Amazon Air](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/promoting-a-more-sustainable-future-through-amazon-air) [How to pack a Prime plane](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/how-to-pack-a-prime-plane) [Amazon Job Creation and Investment U.S.](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutamazon.com%2Fjob-creation-and-investment&esheet=52343952&newsitemid=20201207005605&lan=en-US&anchor=Amazon+Job+Creation+and+Investment+U.S.&index=4&md5=45981e95427166a36db73f3a828d2394) [U.S. Investment Map](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutamazon.com%2Finvesting-in-the-u-s&esheet=52343952&newsitemid=20201207005605&lan=en-US&anchor=U.S.+Investment+Map&index=5&md5=d86b09d3aa74fe6bee406a5614752c53) [Amazon will hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2024](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-will-hire-100-000-veterans-and-military-spouses-by-2024)About AmazonAmazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit [amazon.com/about](http://amazon.com/about) and follow @AmazonNews.

Fares at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport ticked upward in the first quarter of 2021 after hitting their lowest level in history late last year at the height of the pandemic.The average fare at CVG was $248 during the first three months of the year, up from $237 during the final three months of 2020. The fourth quarter fares were an all-time low since the federal government began tracking fare data 25 years ago. The national average was $260.CVG’s fares were the 30th-cheapest among the top 100 U.S. airports, not including ones in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. CVG was tied with San Jose, Calif.The only airports in the Midwest with cheaper fares were Cleveland and both Chicago airports.The pandemic drastically reduced fares at CVG and most airports nationwide, with demand for travel reduced during the pandemic’s peak. But currently, leisure travel has almost entirely recovered, with the airlines’ lucrative business travel slowly increasing each month. The Delta variant of the coronavirus could impact how quickly business travel recovers. CVG’s passenger traffic is at 60% of 2019 levels currently.“As leisure and some business travel returns, we have plenty of options for travelers whether it’s ensuring you have a nonstop flight and/or ensuring you can secure the flight at an affordable price,” said CVG CEO [Candace McGraw](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/search/results?q=Candace%20McGraw).[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/08/10/cvg-fares-starting-to-increase-as-pandemic-flight.html) (subscription-based)

_Skytrax also named CVG among top in Overall Best Airport and Cleanest Airport in North America_Erlanger, KY (August 5, 2021) ― Today, London-based Skytrax announced the 2021 World Airport Awards, and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) was named the World’s Best Regional Airport in North America. This marks the eighth year of the last ten that CVG has topped this award category for airports serving primarily domestic traffic. Additionally, CVG ranked highly in the following award categories. #4 Cleanest Airport in North America #5 Best World Airport Serving 2-5 Million Passengers (COVID-19 numbers) (#1 Rank in North America) #5 Best Airport Staff in North America #9 Best Regional Airport in the World (#1 Rank in North America) #42 Top 100 Airports in the World“On behalf of everyone at CVG, we are very proud and honored to be the recipient of Skytrax ‘s World Airport Award for the Best Regional Airport in North America Award for 2021,” said Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG. “To earn this distinction for eight of the last ten years reflects our continued commitment to providing outstanding customer service. As we begin to travel again, our passengers can be assured that our team’s priority is to provide the best and safest airport experience possible.”Skytrax’s World Airport Awards are based on responses to customer satisfaction surveys, as benchmarked and ranked by airport passengers around the world. The survey operated from August 2020 until July 2021 with many travelers voting for their favorite / best airport based on pre-pandemic travel experiences, while others voted after their COVID-19 airport experience during the past 12 months. More than 550 airports across world regions are ranked in a number of areas, and the awards are independent of any airport control or input. More information about the awards can be found at [https://www.worldairportawards.com/](https://www.worldairportawards.com/).\# # #About CVG AirportCVG Airport has been serving passengers since 1947. The airport welcomed more than 9.1 million passengers in 2019, serving a record number of local passengers. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, CVG still offers the most nonstop destinations and the lowest average airfares in the region. As the 7th largest cargo airport in North America and home to the Amazon Air Hub and DHL Express Global Superhub, CVG is diversified in both passenger and cargo operations. Learn more about CVG and its response to COVID-19 at [CVGairport.com/FlyHealthy](https://www.cvgairport.com/flight/tips/flyhealthy).

_Service level grows by more than one third at CVG;_ _daily service to Phoenix starts 8/17_Erlanger, Ky. (August 3, 2021) – The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is proud to partner with American Airlines as the airline grows its service level at CVG by more than one third compared to pre-pandemic levels. By early November, American will have added two new nonstop destinations, expanded service to one destination and upgraded service to several other destinations providing greater traveler convenience and comfort.“American has proudly served the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport since 1947, and we look forward to serving the community for many more years to come,” said Brian Znotins, American Airlines Vice President of Network Planning. “Whether we’re reconnecting customers with family and friends or helping bring more business to the Greater Cincinnati area, American is eager to be the airline of choice.”Summary of recent activity: August 17th: Expanded daily year-round service to Phoenix will begin with connections to its network in the southwest and west coast.  September 8th: New daily nonstop service to Austin will begin. (Flight starts once daily in September and grows to twice daily in October) November 2nd: New three times daily nonstop service to Boston will begin. Upgraded service to Miami and New York (LGA) using Embraer E75 aircraft with 12 First Class and 64 Economy seating compared to single cabin 50-seat jet service. Introduction of Boeing and Airbus mainline aircraft on selected flights to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Charlotte (CLT) and Phoenix (PHX). This includes enhanced seating capacity and customer comfort and convenience.“The growth of American Airlines at CVG further demonstrates their commitment to both corporate and leisure travelers in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer, CVG. “The expanded service options and larger aircraft being added to American’s CVG network will create new competitive options that benefit local travelers and we look forward to more growth in the future.”About AmericanAmerican’s purpose is to care for people on life’s journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting [news.aa.com \[news.aa.com\]](https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3Anews.aa.com_%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3D0Q2OHQBTAAu31nPFxaJ0LTiI92PbrzGkrf32Krm3f2A%26r%3DQpxUquq7-qkYJnnzh8kApjzQZT-zm-Rz_2RobYTK49Y%26m%3D-EbLnj0jrgUIpnNyhFtNwLmmOTk39qTxiAH1UdLcVdo%26s%3DIGDn24-EuRG-No28Dj6k35XI4cjy4XEeNnv-pRPqnnY%26e%3D&data=04%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7C67cf3f231f8848839b5908d904d337cf%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637546127486499411%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=sHknqQXI8X7rviB7py6uUI%2FrNaI2zMJh9Ps1QwB%2B8GE%3D&reserved=0) and connect with American on Twitter [@AmericanAir \[twitter.com\]](https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3Atwitter.com_AmericanAir%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3D0Q2OHQBTAAu31nPFxaJ0LTiI92PbrzGkrf32Krm3f2A%26r%3DQpxUquq7-qkYJnnzh8kApjzQZT-zm-Rz_2RobYTK49Y%26m%3D-EbLnj0jrgUIpnNyhFtNwLmmOTk39qTxiAH1UdLcVdo%26s%3DTeyRiaIyGlOn4csK7i1bHb9504CzWZo7WkNrDexP_Z0%26e%3D&data=04%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7C67cf3f231f8848839b5908d904d337cf%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637546127486509370%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=toQ5TgxmEYtK6tdLBDlFSHVTqcj%2FwzQAktcABAx1gew%3D&reserved=0) and at [Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines \[facebook.com\]](https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttps-3A__www.facebook.com_AmericanAirlines%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3D0Q2OHQBTAAu31nPFxaJ0LTiI92PbrzGkrf32Krm3f2A%26r%3DQpxUquq7-qkYJnnzh8kApjzQZT-zm-Rz_2RobYTK49Y%26m%3D-EbLnj0jrgUIpnNyhFtNwLmmOTk39qTxiAH1UdLcVdo%26s%3DGWM8ohtuNDABeqzO9_J6JMiLoo6Nr6rHCqH7UTF7bAs%26e%3D&data=04%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7C67cf3f231f8848839b5908d904d337cf%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637546127486509370%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=yDF8rIKs6Fw98zlFTpvd5rSjeM2nPdnyR0ikTldaSEo%3D&reserved=0).About CVG AirportCVG Airport has been serving passengers since 1947. The airport welcomed more than 9.1 million passengers in 2019, serving a record number of local passengers. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, CVG still offers the most nonstop destinations and the lowest average airfares in the region. As the 7th largest cargo airport in North America and home to the Amazon Air Hub and DHL Express Global Superhub, CVG is diversified in both passenger and cargo operations. Learn more about CVG and its response to COVID-19 at [CVGairport.com/FlyHealthy](https://www.cvgairport.com/flight/tips/flyhealthy).

Erlanger, KY (July 20, 2021) ― The addition of new airlines, new and returned flights and increased frequency of flights at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) are providing local travelers a choice of air carriers as well as convenient schedules and affordable airfares. This winning combination is also fueling the return of air travel (passenger traffic year-to-date is 60% compared to 2019) as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.For the last five years, CVG has consistently added service while maintaining the lowest airfares in the region saving passengers an average of $228 per ticket.“As leisure and some business travel returns, we have plenty of options for travelers whether it’s ensuring you have a nonstop flight and/or ensuring you can secure the flight at an affordable price,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer, CVG.Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its average airfare ranking report for the first quarter of 2021, covering January through March. CVG’s average fare of $248 in Q1 2021 outperformed the national average of $260. Local travelers should note the average fare was 30% lower than Q1 2019 (pre-pandemic).The airport’s official ranking was #70 of the top 100 U.S. airports. Airports are ranked from the highest average fare to the lowest average fare.  CVG ranked #70 – average fare $248 Indianapolis (IND) ranked #55 – average fare $270 Columbus (CMH) ranked #44 – average fare $279 Louisville (SDF) ranked #32 – average fare $289 Dayton (DAY) ranked #6 – average fare $315Returned routes, new airlines and new nonstop destinations in 2021. More detail and video can be seen [here](https://www.cvgairport.com/about/on-the-horizon/where-you-can-go-from-cvg-airport). May 14: Sun Country Airlines began service May 20: Alaska Airlines began service May 27 and 28: United Airlines began service to four new leisure destinations June 9: Allegiant Air began new service to Key West, FL June 12: Southwest began new service to Sarasota and Fort Myers August 17: American restarts service to Phoenix September 7: Air Canada restarts service to Toronto September 9: American begins new service to Austin