Why Columbus' first direct flight to Europe "raises the bar"

Lufthansa will begin the first direct air service between Columbus, Ohio, and Europe when it starts flying from John Glenn Columbus International Airport to Frankfurt Airport in May 2027, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority announced Monday. Tickets go on sale Tuesday. The route will operate overnight, departing at 4:20 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arriving at 6:15 a.m. local time. Lufthansa will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 287 seats, including 28 lie-flat business-class seats. Airport and city leaders described the link as a major milestone, arriving alongside plans for a new $2 billion terminal opening in 2029. The carrier’s nearest direct Germany service is currently from Detroit.