Erlanger, Ky. (November 19, 2020) – Airports and airlines across the country are working together to prepare for the holiday travel season. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) expects November and December to be the busiest months for passenger traffic since the pandemic started with the more popular destinations being Florida, Arizona, Cancun, and the Rocky Mountain region.The busiest days for the Thanksgiving holiday will be Friday 11/20; Tuesday, 11/24; Wednesday, 11/25; Saturday 11/28; Sunday, 11/29; and Monday, 11/30.   “Passenger safety is our top priority as evidenced by our global health accreditation,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer, CVG. “We encourage passengers to visit our website which provides information, videos and links to resources for travelers to plan ahead to feel comfortable and confident when arriving at the airport.”Specific changes and updates passengers will see at CVG:   Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high-traffic areas and touchpoints including restrooms and handrails, and aircraft (which is done by the airlines). A new product enhancement at the airport is the use of SafetyNet, a two-step process that first applies an electrostatic disinfection followed up by an anti-microbial solution that binds to and protects surfaces for 30+ days.   Plexiglass guards installed at ticketing counters, security checkpoint, concessions locations, and gate areas. More than double the number of hand sanitizer stations added throughout airport facilities. Friendly reminders for travelers to wear masks and social distance themselves from others.Travelers can read more updates and tips on the [Fly Healthy](https://cvgairport.com/flight/tips/flyhealthy/traveling-tips) section of CVGairport.com.CVG remains the regional leader in offering the most nonstop destinations. CVG is currently the only airport in the region with direct service to Boston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Phoenix/Mesa (AZA) for the two holiday months (November/December). To review nonstop flights offered at CVG, please check [here](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cvgairport.com%2Fnonstopdestinations&data=04%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7C4ca2401c4c6749e9753608d88bf854db%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637413245987400279%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=nI%2FXeNTYYNJRx0qkAxolmvJjNbL4%2Bofash4WLsItmqo%3D&reserved=0).About CVG Airport:The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) welcomed more than 9.1 million passengers in 2019. 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, with an annual economic impact of $6.8 billion. Learn more about CVG and its response to COVID-19 at CVGairport.com/FlyHealthy.

Cincinnati Business Courier / Liz Engel / November 17, 2020A handful of carriers at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are adding back routes just in time for the upcoming holiday travel season – a bit of good news as CVG celebrates its best month since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, although overall volume is down roughly 60% year-to-date.[Bobby Spann](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fcincinnati%2Fsearch%2Fresults%3Fq%3DBobby%2520Spann&data=04%7C01%7Csdeatherage%40cvgairport.com%7C891091a36d4544058f7508d88b101d51%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637412248636719569%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=QmwRMVpyn8dRkglZEJn8ImVDWUJAteoBpejO7NKKlVA%3D&reserved=0), CVG’s vice president for external affairs, said Delta, Frontier and American, among others, are restarting nonstop routes that had been previously been paused. And Allegiant is now operating three markets it didn’t serve at this point last year. CVG, Spann said, is coming off its best month in October in terms of passenger traffic since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has devastated the aviation industry nationwide. Industry analysts believe passenger traffic will not fully rebound until 2024, although CVG CEO [Candace McGraw](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fcincinnati%2Fsearch%2Fresults%3Fq%3DCandace%2520McGraw&data=04%7C01%7Csdeatherage%40cvgairport.com%7C891091a36d4544058f7508d88b101d51%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637412248636719569%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jySk%2FXBM3b6tBaTt019aAvwyYx9nqRvb9nyxUQx7Kb0%3D&reserved=0) [said in a _Courier_ cover story last week](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fcincinnati%2Fnews%2F2020%2F11%2F13%2Fhow-cvg-comes-back-after-covid.html&data=04%7C01%7Csdeatherage%40cvgairport.com%7C891091a36d4544058f7508d88b101d51%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637412248636719569%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=wPYHVkuHZblz8dFREdI0IphSsv6OWzkkAujZMyTyu4E%3D&reserved=0) she is optimistic for 2023 return for CVG.There are several small signs of progress.Delta, CVG’s largest legacy carrier, is restarting nonstop flights to Ft. Lauderdale this week, and in December, routes to Denver and Cancun will return, Spann said. Delta also resumed service to Newark, Las Vegas, Washington-Reagan International Airport, Boston and Los Angeles in October, giving the airline a total of 16 active nonstop destinations at CVG – nearly half its normal load. Seventeen markets remain suspended. Additionally, Frontier, which is currently operating five markets at CVG, is bringing back service to Miami over the Christmas holiday, Spann said. Southwest launched service to Houston’s William P. Lobby Airport in November, and American will increase its service to Phoenix from four days a week to daily for a roughly two-week stretch over Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Allegiant, which has served the CVG market since 2014, is fairing best among the airport’s current carrier base. It will be flying 10% more seats in December than it did during the same period last year, Spann said, “which is great news.” As of October, Allegiant was operating 17 markets at CVG, including three it did not fly in 2019: Palm Beach, Myrtle Beach and Austin.December routes are largely set at this point, so Spann is setting his sights on January. There are small positives there. He’s expecting a roughly 3-4% boost in terms of capacity so far.“Slowly but surely we’re growing our way out of this, but it’s still going to be a pretty long haul,” Spann said. [Full story here](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/11/17/cvg-carriers-adding-routes-november-december.html) (subscription-based)

Cincinnati Business Courier / Chris Wetterich / November 9, 2020The coronavirus pandemic has had many effects on Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, including the airport receiving its best-ever ranking in the national report issued on airfares.CVG had the 10th-lowest fares in the nation for the second quarter of 2020 among the top 100 U.S. airports, which included the first 2 ½ months of the pandemic. Air traffic was down about 87% during the quarter nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.CVG’s average airfare was $214.79, down from $323.75 in the same period in 2019, adjusted for inflation. It’s also the lowest airfare, adjusted for inflation, since 1995, the earliest year for which the government publishes airfare records. The average U.S. airfare of $259 was down 27.8% from the same period in 2019.The lowest airfare in the U.S. was posted by Orlando-Sanford International Airport at $94.07. The highest was Ted Stevens-Anchorage International Airport at $383.94.“The aviation industry has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, and dramatic declines in passenger levels has led to low fares across the country,” said CVG CEO [Candace McGraw](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fcincinnati%2Fsearch%2Fresults%3Fq%3DCandace%2520McGraw&data=04%7C01%7Csdeatherage%40cvgairport.com%7C0baa34bb8529407d478a08d8858dd132%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637406191437098882%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=MvB%2B86DNQ5C22iXW%2Fwu6AnSWt9IycU1%2F6briWlg6M%2F8%3D&reserved=0). “CVG has worked hard in recent years to become a multi-carrier airport so we are proud of this ranking. We are confident the trend of low airfares will continue as people make holiday and winter travel plans.”[Full Story Here](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/11/09/how-the-pandemic-has-affected-cvgs-fares.html) (subscription-based)

Forbes.com /  Ben Baldanza / October 19, 2020For three days in October, I attended the [International Aviation Forecast Summit](https://www.aviationplanning.com/ "https://www.aviationplanning.com")’s 25th anniversary conference, held this year in Cincinnati at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. This conference is normally held in August, but was postponed this year for obvious reasons. Hosted by Mike and Marian Boyd, they pulled off something few thought could happen - a live, in-person business conference long before people thought this could be possible. It worked very well, and here are five key takeaways from this conference during covid:The Hotel Had Seven Months To PrepareThe hotel was ready for this conference, and it was the first one the hotel had hosted in seven months. The major conference room was huge with six foot tables, spaced apart, with one table for each attendee. This allowed everyone to hear the speakers and watch the presentations with minimized risk. The audio-visual support was also excellent, meaning that despite the large room, multiple screens and good speakers made it easy to see and hear from wherever you sat.Beyond the main room, gathering and networking areas were large and there was a lot of signage reminding everyone to wear their mask. There also were tables of masks and sanitizers throughout. The staff was highly attentive and several commented that they had been laid off and due to this conference they got their job back. Those comments alone made it worth attending.Many People Came, Some Stayed RemoteIn what may be the future for all conferences, this was held both in-person and virtual. People were able to log in and see the presentations streamed live, and a few presenters did so remotely as well. This highlighted a reality that I had forgotten. In the breaks, bathrooms, elevators, etc. I had many conversations with people I knew and some I had just met. We discussed our businesses, our families, why we decided to come to this conference instead of join remotely, and more. But after each conversation, I realized that this did not happen for any of the remote attendees. When I think back on the event, some of the best times from the conference were exactly these spontaneous, uncoordinated meetings. That’s something I had taken for granted before Covid, and having that back was a real treat.One thing that could have been better is to have a sense of how many people actually were participating remotely. There was not a big screen with people’s names, for example, so while sitting in the room and seeing 50 to 70 other people you knew there were at least that many listening on line but not exactly sure when or where they were. In smaller business meetings, when some people are physically together and others are remote, keeping everyone engaged and “in the flow” can be a challenge. This was true in this larger setting as well. As my son heads back to a hybrid school structure at the end of the month, I worry about that too since some kids will be in the classroom and others will be live-streamed in. I imagine that the teachers will have to work hard to keep everyone equally involved and engaged.Communicate Your Own Social ComfortsPick your color to show how you'd like others to approach you. BOYD GROUP, 2020Participants were asked to put a sticker on their tag expressing their own personal comfort view: green for handshakes are ok, yellow for talking but no touching, and red for strict guidelines please and minimal contact. Most people had yellow stickers, though I saw a few greens and only one red. I thought “if you have a red tag, should I even be seeing it?” But this worked well and guided behaviors closely. This was a thoughtful approach and again reminded everyone that we were doing something new for this era. I saw several people contemplating what sticker was right for them as they registered to get their tag.The Conference Itself Encouraged Other Safe BehaviorsThe conference organizers had worked hard to pull this off, and their passion to do it right was evident everywhere. At each introduction and administrative announcement, they reminded us that it is was our responsibility to prove that a conference like this could be done safely, and successfully, and that we needed to set this precedent. Social activities were distanced and everyone behaved. Some things were staged in groups so that no large gatherings needed to occur. The conference had its own app that allowed people to check schedules, communicate with each other or the organizers, and know where to go making human contact for these things not necessary.Everyone Left With A New Realization And A More Open MindThroughout the conference, the feeling built that this really worked and several commented about “how normal” things felt again. I found this a bit funny since they said this while wearing a mask and next to a table full of pocket sanitizers. But the point was well taken. I was happy to have gone, and know that this would have been much less enjoyable had I joined remotely. I think that everyone who went would say the same thing. I never felt any real risk as all the right structures and behaviors were in place. This must have been very tough for Mike and Marian Boyd to pull off, especially not even knowing at first if a critical mass of people would chose to attend in person. Thankfully they did, and the result was a realization that a business conference can happen safely today when the organization, hotel, and participants all want it to.[Story Here](https://www.forbes.com/sites/benbaldanza/2020/10/19/i-attended-a-live-in-person-convention-and-it-was-safe/?sh=39ef468f68b7)

Erlanger, Ky. (November 5, 2020) – Southwest Airlines’ inaugural flight from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) took off to Houston, Texas – William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) this morning at 7:00 AM. The new nonstop flight operates roundtrip daily\. Tickets are available at [_Southwest.com_](https://www.southwest.com/)_._Houston is one of the top markets in the Southwest system providing access to more than 60 nonstop destinations. It is the fourth nonstop destination served year-round by Southwest from CVG, which includes Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Chicago Midway (MDW) and Denver (DEN). Southwest also serves Phoenix (PHX), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on a seasonal basis from CVG.“With new service to Houston, we’re matching service with the demand of Cincinnati travelers who are looking for easier access to more destinations including cities along the West Coast, Mexico, and the Caribbean,” said [Andrew Watterson](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.swamedia.com%2Fpages%2Fandrew_watterson&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208214849&sdata=QChQvnHKS9FO2KUgkJsOULfb5Xa8dXBo3sIZNe%2F4aCw%3D&reserved=0), Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “We continue seeing trends increasing for leisure destinations and we’re looking forward to welcoming more travelers onboard when they’re ready to travel with our world-class Hospitality, Customer-friendly policies, and low fares.”“The flight to Houston Hobby is already proving to be popular,” said [Candace McGraw](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cvgairport.com%2Fdocs%2Fdefault-source%2Fleadership%2Fcvg_bio_mcgraw_2020-01_v3.pdf%3Fsfvrsn%3D2&data=04%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7C06737be1135944b0c22208d88007d0db%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637400118351004879%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=NCr7y9eclgOf95HCo4oC6wabAoItCASkgGIU6yw1xM4%3D&reserved=0), chief executive officer, CVG. “Houston is not only a wonderful city to visit, it provides excellent connection to more than 20 U.S. destinations including San Diego, Sacramento and Orange County, California, as well as an entry point for international travel to connect to Latin America and Caribbean destinations served by Southwest, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based[Southwest Airlines Co.](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.southwest.com%2F%3Fsrc%3DPRPRPRNMIDDLESEATEXTENSION200916&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208214849&sdata=W%2FFKWhLyhazinaFovJMbUbQashvhQPUPJGiWmLJ4ubA%3D&reserved=0) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service to a Customer base topping 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In early 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii, and Cozumel, Mexico. Southwest will begin service to Steamboat Springs, Colo. on Dec. 19, 2020, and also recently announced its intention to serve Palm Springs, Calif. and Miami, Fla. The carrier issued its [Southwest® Promise](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southwest.com%2Fpromise%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208224807&sdata=4GnW88LDt9cwBjO0USSmNuge%2FNH9FRjb1Mk6THJLC%2BA%3D&reserved=0) in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees wellbeing and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, face covering requirements for Customers and Employees, and capping the number of passengers on every flight to allow middle seats to remain open through Nov. 30, 2020. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at [Southwest.com/Promise](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southwest.com%2Fpromise%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208224807&sdata=4GnW88LDt9cwBjO0USSmNuge%2FNH9FRjb1Mk6THJLC%2BA%3D&reserved=0).Southwest coined [Transfarency](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.transfarency.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208224807&sdata=x0NVMf6%2BUVKivZEVbDNWnarWM6NXsaFAr3zJzNRZhG0%3D&reserved=0)® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.

Erlanger, KY (October 26, 2020) ― Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its average airfare ranking report for the second quarter of 2020, covering April through June. While the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) maintained its position as low-fare leader in the region, the airport also saw its best-ever ranking for average airfare among the top 100 U.S. airports.With an average fare of $215, CVG was #92 of 100 top U.S. airports for Q2 2020 — the airport’s best-ever ranking in this report. CVG’s airfares were the lowest in the region and outperformed the national average of $259.Regional comparisons: CVG ranked #92 – average fare $215 Indianapolis (IND) ranked #72 – average fare $243 Lexington (LEX) ranked #67 – average fare $247 Louisville (SDF) ranked #57 – average fare $254 Columbus (CMH) ranked #49 – average fare $259 Dayton (DAY) ranked #32 – average fare $269 While this reporting period was the first full quarter to see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, CVG’s average airfare for the second quarter of 2020 represented a 34 percent decrease from Q2 2019.“The aviation industry has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, and dramatic declines in passenger levels has led to low fares across the country,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer of CVG. “CVG has worked hard in recent years to become a multi-carrier airport so we are proud of this ranking. We are confident the trend of low airfares will continue as people make holiday and winter travel plans.”\# # #About CVG AirportThe Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has been serving passengers since 1947. CVG welcomed more than 9.1 million passengers in 2019, a 2.7 percent increase over the year prior. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, CVG still offers the most nonstop destinations, airline choices, 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. With an annual impact of $6.8 billion on the local economy, the airport drives regional growth and remains a leader in innovation. Learn more about CVG and its response to COVID-19 at CVGairport.com/FlyHealthy.

WCPO-TV 9 / Raven Richard / October 22, 2020CINCINNATI — October is almost over, which means holiday plans are probably on your mind. Is it safe to get on a plane and fly home this Thanksgiving or Christmas?A Cincinnati-area infectious disease expert says the answer is _yes_, assuming passengers practice mask-wearing and social distancing during their journeys.“As long as everybody’s wearing a mask and at least in the airport area staying socially distant, it’s relatively safe,” said Tri-Health infectious disease doctor Steven Blatt. “They’ve done some studies looking at flights to the Middle East from China where they tested everybody who got on the plane and they knew who had COVID, and there’s hardly been any transmission to other people as long as everybody wears their mask on the plane.”So what about that “recycled air” that everyone is breathing on a plane? Blatt says it’s all about circulation.“It circulates the virus out of the airplane through filters so that it can’t come back in,” he said “If there’s no air circulation, the virus would build up in the air around you.”[Full Video and Story Here](https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/is-it-safe-to-fly-this-holiday-season-expert-says-yes-with-the-right-precautions)

Eye on Travel Radio Show & Blog / Peter Greenberg / October 17, 2020This week, _Eye on Travel_ comes to you from the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati and the site of the annual Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit. Ted Christie, CEO of Spirit Airlines, talks with Peter about how the low-cost, low-fare airline will survive and succeed in the era of COVID-19. Chief Economist at Airlines for America, John Heimlich, weighs in on the real numbers, not to mention the 86% drop in business travel. And Mike Boyd discusses the real fear factors and why people are still not flying — and what needs to happen in order to get travelers in the air again. Captain John Cox, President and CEO of Safety Operating Systems LLC, talks about the revolutionary shift of the airline industry this year with changes in the availability of equipment and locations as the industry recovers — including an update on the Boeing 737 Max. We’ll also take a look at the impact on airports around the U.S., starting with Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG). And there’s some good news: Business Courier’s Andy Brownfield talks about the renaissance that Cincinnati has gone through over the last 10 years and the food and cultural explosion in the city. There’s all this and more on this week’s broadcast of _Eye on Travel_.[Tune in to PeterGreenberg.com](http://www.petergreenberg.com/) _from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET for the latest Eye on Travel on Saturday, October 17th, 2020__[Full Radio broadcast here](https://petergreenberg.com/2020/10/16/eye-on-travel-hyatt-regency-cincinnati-october-17-2020/)__Have a travel question? Then ask Peter. E-mail him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @petersgreenberg (include #AskPeter)._ Mike Boyd, Aviation Consultant and President of Boyd Group International, believes that the return of successful domestic travel begins with destinations opening both safely from the virus and no quarantine restrictions. He discusses that people are not flying now mostly because of misinformation about airplane safety and about the pandemic as well as uncertainty about their destinations after deboarding the plane. He talks about how 31% of all U.S. enplanements are generated by international travel, which is what is currently shut down. Mike discusses the drop in transpacific travel from 8.2 million down to 1.5 million. He thinks that all airlines will exist a year from now, but without relief, it will be a much smaller industry with fewer places to go and fewer airplanes in function.Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), discusses how CVG will finish 2020 with about 30% of the business that it had in 2019. She talks about CVG having a $6.8 billion annual economic impact on the region with 14,500 employees on the campus and 47,000 jobs in the community. The negative impacts do not only come from airplanes and passengers, but also from retail, parking, landing fees and more. She talks about the “Southwest factor,” and how adding carriers created competition to keep fares lower at CVG within the last two years. She mentions that pre-pandemic, 90-93% of passenger trips either began or ended at CVG, which would mean that travelers leave the airport and go to restaurants and hotels across the river in Cincinnati.Captain John Cox, President and Chief Executive Officer of Safety Operating Systems LLC, talks about the revolutionary shift of the airline industry this year with changes in the availability of equipment and locations as the industry recovers. He mentions the success and reliability of twin-engine airplanes that can fly anywhere over the world. He believes that corporate travel will return once large corporations lift their own travel restrictions and that leisure traffic has come back faster because each individual can make his or her own decisions. He discusses airline schedules and how airlines like Delta are now publishing schedules 30 days in advance instead of six to eight months in advance with adjustments still being made last minute. He says that fully booked planes and expensive fares are not such a big problem for travelers now.Ted Christie, President and CEO at Spirit Airlines Inc, gives his optimistic perspective on the future of Spirit Airlines, which is the lowest cost airline in the United States. Ted explains that Spirit’s core traffic comes from leisure travel, so they are one of the first airlines to see recovery as leisure travel tends to be the most resilient and comes back more quickly in times of crisis. He discusses that traveling on an airplane is safe because of the air quality and the recirculation of air. He also discusses how allowing travelers to be flexible will reestablish confidence in flying. Ted further talks about how Spirit has banned passengers for not wearing masks and that the company stands behind its employees in upholding the mask requirements. He speaks about Spirit’s refund policy and how it has extended the windows to allow people more time to use vouchers. He believes that the passenger traffic numbers for leisure travel in 2021 will look like 2019 as more people visit friends and relatives.Andy Brownfield, Reporter for the Cincinnati Business Courier, talks about the restaurant scene in the city. He says that over the last 10 years, the whole region has undergone a renaissance with the redevelopment of neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine and near the Ohio River. He mentions that people can find Venezuelan Arepas, old-fashioned barbeque, and Hawaiian-style poke bowls all on the same street. He also gives a Cincinnati perspective to the historical story of President William Howard Taft getting stuck in a bathtub. He then discusses a big boom in whiskey and bourbon and gives a recommendation for a great Chinese food restaurant.Daniel Shurz, Senior Vice President of Commercial for Frontier Airlines, talks about how it is not surprising that leisure travel will recover more quickly than business travel. He says that he is seeing travelers book trips slightly further out now, but people are still waiting until the last minute because they are unsure of how their destination’s openings will change. Frontier went into the pandemic with its services being 95% domestic, and Daniel says that has been advantageous because there are not many travel restrictions within the United States. He talks about a spike in travel to destinations with mountains and other outdoor open spaces because people want to be comfortable while also fulfilling a pent-up desire to travel. He also discusses the benefits of secondary airports.John Heimlich, Vice President and Chief Economist at Airlines for America (A4A), gives his perspective on how the medical timeline influences the recovery of the airline industry. With a medical solution such as testing, therapeutics or a vaccine, the economic side of the industry can begin to recover. He believes there is a five-year proposition and 2021 will be a big transition year for the industry. He discusses that corporate travel is down 86% and has hardly budged since March. Corporate travelers travel the most frequently and pay the most in ancillary services. He believes that travel will recover when people feel entirely safe in their trips, which also includes feeling safe in taxis, Ubers, restaurants and hotels.John Fox, Editor-in-Chief of Cincinnati Magazine, gives insight to Cincinnati being either the southernmost northern city or the northernmost southern city. He provides history about river traffic and river boats on the Ohio River. John offers his perspective on whether or not Cincinnati should be considered part of the Rust Belt and discusses Procter and Gamble as the biggest industry in the city. He discusses Union Terminal and its function as a museum center, the Cincinnati zoo and German immigration. He then talks about Cincinnati’s chili parlors with sweet Greek-style chili as well as German food and beer being popular not only throughout the city but also within the sports stadiums.Ray Dabbelt, Deputy Fire Chief of Cincinnati Airport, shares how his department’s most frequent calls are for EMS runs. He explains that the department is hooked into tower and radio frequencies and reports to any gear or plane malfunction. Ray gives insight on the CVG fire department’s tradition of saluting a pilot’s final crossing of the waterway on his or her last flight before retirement as well as how military service members are honored. He also discusses how his department must maintain a three-minute response time, and so they are always ready to go — 24/7.

Erlanger, Ky. (October 7, 2020) – Southwest Airlines is expanding service between Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Orlando, Florida – Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa, Florida – Tampa International Airport (TPA), and Phoenix, Arizona – Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX).Service to Orlando, Tampa and Phoenix will operate daily, rather than weekends only, beginning early 2021. The increased frequencies are currently scheduled through April 11, 2021. This increased service follows the addition of a new nonstop flight to Houston that was announced last week (Sept. 30). Houston became the fourth nonstop destination served year-round by Southwest from CVG, which includes Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Chicago Midway (MDW) and Denver (DEN). In total, Southwest will offer more than 65 weekly flights to seven nonstop destinations from CVG.Tickets are available now at [_Southwest.com_](https://www.southwest.com/)_,_ and the updated schedule is outlined below: “We have a wonderful partnership with Southwest and are grateful they continue to both expand destinations and increase flight frequencies from CVG,” said [Candace McGraw](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cvgairport.com%2Fdocs%2Fdefault-source%2Fleadership%2Fcvg_bio_mcgraw_2020-01_v3.pdf%3Fsfvrsn%3D2&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cabdffe08af074200c0c808d864a3e863%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637370002420768514&sdata=8Jd6LaDdkVtf%2FLMxbo3GUjwnp7w%2BN0e1Ne9g4wDQLV0%3D&reserved=0), chief executive officer, CVG. “Southwest’s commitment to CVG is a testimony to the strength and continued vibrancy of our region.”ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based[Southwest Airlines Co.](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.southwest.com%2F%3Fsrc%3DPRPRPRNMIDDLESEATEXTENSION200916&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208214849&sdata=W%2FFKWhLyhazinaFovJMbUbQashvhQPUPJGiWmLJ4ubA%3D&reserved=0) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service to a Customer base topping 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In early 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii, and Cozumel, Mexico. Southwest will begin service to Steamboat Springs, Colo. on Dec. 19, 2020, and also recently announced its intention to serve Palm Springs, Calif. and Miami, Fla.The carrier issued its [Southwest® Promise](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southwest.com%2Fpromise%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208224807&sdata=4GnW88LDt9cwBjO0USSmNuge%2FNH9FRjb1Mk6THJLC%2BA%3D&reserved=0) in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees wellbeing and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, face covering requirements for Customers and Employees, and capping the number of passengers on every flight to allow middle seats to remain open through Nov. 30, 2020. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at [Southwest.com/Promise](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southwest.com%2Fpromise%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208224807&sdata=4GnW88LDt9cwBjO0USSmNuge%2FNH9FRjb1Mk6THJLC%2BA%3D&reserved=0).Southwest coined [Transfarency](https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.transfarency.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmkershner%40cvgairport.com%7Cb04b394db6684feba57208d86498b432%7C6a1858161bcc4c24b4487abfacd1c666%7C0%7C0%7C637369955208224807&sdata=x0NVMf6%2BUVKivZEVbDNWnarWM6NXsaFAr3zJzNRZhG0%3D&reserved=0)® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.