WCPO / Felicia Jordan / August 21, 2023HEBRON, Ky. — The robots are coming to CVG, and they're bringing food.CVG's "Ottobots," named so after the name of the California-based company that created them, Ottonomy, will now be offering more than just snacks.Though the bots launched in 2021 in Concourse B, where they brought hungry passengers snacks, bottled drinks and other travel necessities, now they have the ability to deliver sandwiches from Subway.Right now, there are two Ottobots and they're fully otto-nomous.Their mission is to deliver food to passengers' gates in Concourse A, so guests can sit comfortable while they wait for their flight and avoid the harrowing task of gathering all their bags, belongings and offspring before embarking on a journey to rustle up some food before the literal journey of boarding an airplane.The technology is also aimed at helping travelers with accessibility needs and the robots are ADA-accessible, according to CVG.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/ottobots-roll-out-cvgs-robots-will-deliver-food-while-you-wait-for-your-flight)

Local 12 / Meghan Mongillo WKRC / August 10, 2023CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport passengers with hidden disabilities can now get help in a subtle way.Sunflowers are the worldwide symbol for help and patience in the aviation world. A traveler can put on the green lanyard with the yellow flowers and express that they need a helping hand, more understanding or time. CVG is one of 215 airports around the globe taking part in the hidden disabilities program.CVG travelers can request a free sunflower lanyard to be mailed to their residence by emailing info@cvgairport.com or by stopping by the information desk on the Baggage Claim level at the airport.

WLWT / Fletcher Keel / August 8, 2023HEBRON, Ky. — One of the most recognized dining establishments in Cincinnati is coming to CVG Airport.Set to be open in time for the holiday season, a new Frisch's Big Boy franchise will open in CVG's Terminal A.“Our team is delighted for the opportunity to bring another iconic Cincinnati brand to CVG," said Spencer Shaw, executive vice president of United Concessions Group, in a press release. "We are dedicated to giving the team members and travelers of CVG the best the Queen City has to offer, and this is another step in the right direction.”[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wlwt.com/article/frischs-big-boy-cvg-airport/44761501#)

WVXU / Ann Thompson / August 7, 2023The Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport is seeing green over a plan to increase revenue and help lower airplane emissions.It's marketing a 350-acre plot of land in phases, south of the terminal and next to CVG's longest runway, which would serve as a maintenance "ecosystem."The "green" part is because empty cargo and passenger planes wouldn't have to be flown to other airports for service. They could stay right here and that would reduce emissions."If we can take care of the lifecycle of an aircraft here at CVG, then there's no reason for an airline or an operator to go to another airport to get maintenance done," says airport spokesperson Mindy Kershner. "They can kind of get it all done here."The area is called "Hangar Row," and Kershner says this is an opportunity to develop land in a prime spot that's connected to CVG's taxiways and longest runway.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2023-08-07/cvg-hangar-row-decrease-emissions-maintenance-planes)

Airport Experience News / David Ward / August 1, 2023The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has partnered with Cincinnati-based Dude, Seriously, LLC, to offer a unique hot sauce vending machine at the airport.Located in Concourse A, the “Dude, Seriously Hot Sauce” vending machine features the brand’s award-winning handcrafted hot sauce alongside some of the nation’s top brands including sauces made in Cincinnati and Covington, as well as North Carolina, Texas, New York.The state-of-the-art vending machine offers a range of options to cater to different tastes and heat level preferences, with full size bottles ranging from $15-$20.“We are proud to partner with local entrepreneur Kai Schneider and Dude, Seriously which is an innovative brand,” said Candace McGraw, CVG CEO. “This first of its kind vending machine will provide a unique retail and gift option for our travelers while showcasing the Cincy region.”

The Lane Report / July 31, 2023COVINGTON, Ky. — DHL Express, a global leader in international express shipping, announced it would expand its current operations at CVG Airport in Boone County with a $192 million total investment creating 86 quality Kentucky jobs.The investment will include the development of a new 305,200-square-foot aircraft maintenance facility on a 50-acre site located south of and adjacent to DHL’s current CVG Airport hub. The project will also include the addition of eight new aircraft gates at its current ramp to support CVG hub operations and repurpose the existing aviation and line maintenance space in Building 3. The project will boost the company’s total Kentucky employment to over 3,800.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.lanereport.com/166818/2023/07/dhl-express-to-expand-at-cvg-airport/)

Cincinnati Business Courier / Chris Wetterich / July 26, 2023More passengers flew out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky in June than in any month since the pandemic began.CVG saw 422,000 passengers board flights in June. Airport officials are taking it as another sign of the airport’s near-full recovery from the pandemic.“The last time we hit 400,000 passengers was 45 months ago in 2019,” said Simon Wood, CVG’s director for air service development. “We’re continuing to climb out of the Covid hole. It shows the forward momentum as we rebuild our air service.”Passenger levels in June were 103% of 2019 levels, compared with 101% nationally, while the airport had 98% of the seats it had in 2019.CVG also reported the opening month of British Airways’ new service to London’s Heathrow International Airport saw passengers flock to the airport’s second transatlantic destination. Flights were about 84% full, Wood said, “which is phenomenal for a new route.”[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/07/26/cvg-hits-highest-passenger-numbers-since-2019.html)

Cincinnati Business Courier / Chris Wetterich / July 19, 2023Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will spend $2.25 million to upgrade security in its terminal.Passengers will notice the change as they exit the concourse area into the terminal where the baggage and ticketing areas are located.Today, a security guard staffs the exit 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. The guard prevents people from trying to enter the concourse area through the exit. New technology will eliminate the need for security, CVG CEO Candace McGraw said.“The price and the technology has become more cost-effective. There are more providers in the market,” McGraw said.For years, it has been cheaper to pay for security staff members, but the price for the technology needed to secure the area, a federal requirement, has improved.The “exit lane” technology will detect improper flow and security breaches by camera and other movement sensing technology.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/07/19/cvg-set-to-spend-millions-on-security-upgrade.html)

Air Cargo News / Damian Brett / July 19, 2023Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport reported the largest percentage increase in cargo volumes last year of the top 20 cargo airports, according to the latest statistics (see chart at end of article) from Airports Council International (ACI).ACI released its provisional figures for the top 10 airports back in April, showing that Hong Kong International remained the busiest cargo airport in the world last year despite a fall in demand related to Covid restrictions on airline crew and airport workers that hampered operations.The council has now released its final figures for 2022 and has also provided data for those airports placed 11-20.Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – home to Amazon Air’s primary US hub and DHL Express’ hub for the Americas – witnessed the largest cargo volume growth (+16.8%) amongst the top 20 airports.[FULL STORY HERE](https://www.aircargonews.net/cargo-airport/top-20-cargo-airports-cincinnati-northern-kentucky-the-big-winner/)