Columbus Regional Airport Authority

What Columbus Regional Airport Authority does

Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) is a public airport authority organized under Ohio state law that operates and manages three aviation facilities serving Central Ohio: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), the primary commercial passenger gateway; Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), a cargo-anchored international airport hosting major e-commerce freight operators; and Bolton Field, a general aviation facility. The authority also administers Foreign-Trade Zone 138 (FTZ 138), providing customs duty deferral and trade facilitation services to businesses across a mapped regional service area, and operates a CALEA-accredited police force for airport public safety. CRAA is currently executing the CMH Next program, a new terminal development at CMH that represents the authority's most significant capital investment of the modern era and was supported by a 2025 Bond Buyer Deal of the Year-recognized revenue bond issuance.

The authority generates operating revenue across six principal streams: airport operations and passenger services, concessions and advertising, real estate leasing and development on airport properties, FTZ 138 administrative and service fees, ground transportation licensing and regulation, and security badging for access to restricted areas. Its go-to-market is hybrid: CRAA engages commercial airline partners through direct enterprise agreements, solicits concession operators and vendors through structured procurement and partnership programs, licenses ground transportation providers, and serves cargo operators via Rickenbacker's dedicated infrastructure. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, with fees determined through procurement processes, partnership agreements, and regulatory frameworks typical of a public authority.

The technology footprint is centered on physical aviation infrastructure and operational systems rather than software products, with technology-enabled operations supporting CMH Next construction, the FTZ 138 platform, and an online customer payment portal (ProDIGIQ) for invoices and notices of violation. Recent innovation activity includes a June 2025 pilot of a fully autonomous AI-powered pizza restaurant operated by Donatos Pizza and Appletronix at CMH, signaling willingness to test differentiated concession formats. Leadership includes President and CEO Daren Griffin, CFO Mario Wong, Chief Planning and Engineering Officer Tom McCarthy (overseeing the CMH Next buildout), and Chief People Officer Cammi Wing.

Name

Columbus Regional Airport Authority

Legal name

Columbus Regional Airport Authority

Website

https://columbusairports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) is a public Ohio airport authority operating John Glenn Columbus International, Rickenbacker International, and Bolton Field airports, plus Foreign-Trade Zone 138, serving commercial passengers, cargo operators, business partners, and general aviation users across Central Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Aviation Infrastructure

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119), Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Passenger Terminal Facilities Management (Cleaning, Maintenance, Utilities) (TLAHAEAK), Airport Ground Transport Terminals (Rail/Bus/Coach) (THAIALAG)

Keywords

• Airport operations
• Aviation infrastructure
• Cargo logistics
• Airport concessions
• Foreign-trade zone services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Airport Operations & Passenger Services: CRAA generates revenue through management and operation of three airports (John Glenn Columbus International Airport CMH, Rickenbacker International Airport LCK, and Bolton Field) serving commercial passenger, cargo, and general aviation traffic.
2. Concessions & Advertising: Revenue is generated through advertising and concessions partnerships with businesses seeking visibility and service operations within airport facilities.
3. Real Estate & Development: CRAA earns revenue through real estate leasing and development opportunities at airport properties, including commercial, industrial, and logistics facilities.
4. Foreign-Trade Zone 138: CRAA administers FTZ 138, providing trade facilitation and economic development services to businesses in the region, generating administrative and service fees.
5. Ground Transportation Services: Revenue from licensing and regulating ground transportation providers operating at the airports.
6. Airport Badging & Security Services: Fees collected for security badging access to secure airport areas, supporting the CALEA-accredited police force operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbus Regional Airport Authority operates and manages a multi-airport system serving Central Ohio, including John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), and Bolton Field, providing commercial passenger, cargo, and general aviation infrastructure and services. The authority generates revenue from airline operations, concessions, advertising, real estate leasing, Foreign-Trade Zone 138 trade facilitation, ground transportation licensing, and airport security badging.

Product overview

Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) operates a multi-airport system centered on John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK), plus general aviation facilities. The authority provides passenger air travel, cargo operations, real estate development, Foreign-Trade Zone 138 services, and ground transportation. Additional offerings include security badging, noise management, and operational data services. CRAA is currently developing the CMH Next new terminal project to modernize its infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH): Primary commercial passenger airport serving Columbus, Ohio
• Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)
• FTZ 138

Products and services

• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Donatos PizzaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 June 2025Donatos Pizza, an Ohio-based pizza chain, announced it will open a fully autonomous pizza restaurant at John Glenn Columbus International Airport in June 2025. The restaurant will be operated by AI-powered robots in collaboration with Appletronix, providing a 24/7 robot-made pizza experience with real-time viewing of pizza preparation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority: Operates Washington Dulles and Reagan National as a multi-airport authority with a large capital improvement plan and bond market access. Directly comparable in multi-airport governance, public-authority structure, and aviation infrastructure scale.
• Port Authority of New York & New Jersey: Operates JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Stewart, and a major port and tunnel network, with extensive bond issuance. A much larger, broader incumbent operating in the same aviation infrastructure space with similar public-authority governance and bond-financed capital programs.

Direct peers

• Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (Tampa International): Independent aviation authority operating Tampa International Airport, known for its Master Plan capital program, strong non-aeronautical revenue per enplanement, and bond-financed expansion — closely comparable to CRAA's CMH Next program and revenue mix.
• Wayne County Airport Authority (Detroit Metropolitan): Public authority operating Detroit Metro (DTW), a major Midwest hub with significant cargo operations. Comparable to CRAA in passenger-cargo mix, multi-airport portfolio, and public-authority capital access via bond markets.
• Indianapolis Airport Authority: Public authority operating Indianapolis International Airport and surrounding general aviation facilities, with FedEx Express hub cargo exposure. Highly comparable to CRAA in governance structure, passenger-cargo dual mandate, and Midwestern economic catchment.
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport: Operated by the City of Cleveland's Department of Port Control, Cleveland Hopkins is another Ohio-based public commercial airport offering passenger, cargo, and air services — directly comparable to CRAA's CMH in passenger scope, regional catchment, and public-authority governance.
• Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority: Joint-powers authority operating Hollywood Burbank Airport, currently executing a terminal replacement program (Elevate BUR). Closely comparable to CRAA in authority structure, terminal modernization scope, and bond-financed capital delivery.
• Greater Orlando Aviation Authority: Independent aviation authority operating Orlando International Airport with a major capital program (Terminal C), a strong non-aeronautical and concession business, and bond-financed expansion — directly paralleling CRAA's CMH Next buildout and concession-led revenue strategy.
• Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG): Regional airport authority in the Ohio Valley region operating a major passenger hub alongside one of the largest cargo and e-commerce gateways in North America (DHL Super Hub). Comparable to CRAA's combination of a commercial hub and a dedicated cargo airport under one authority.
• Allegheny County Airport Authority (Pittsburgh International): Operates Pittsburgh International Airport as a public authority with terminal modernization (Terminal Modernization Program) comparable in scope and ambition to CRAA's CMH Next. Similar governance, scale, and capital-program profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/columbusairport
• Facebookfacebook.com/columbusairportcmh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbus-regional-airport-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbus Regional Airport Authority