CVG CEO updates Grant County court on record passengers, cargo growth and terminal modernization plan

Larry Crowder, chief executive officer of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), delivered a detailed briefing to the Grant County Fiscal Court on Oct. 21 that highlighted record passenger counts, cargo hub expansion and a multi‑year terminal modernization program.

Crowder said CVG handled 9.2 million passengers in 2024 and that the airport’s updated annual economic impact is about $10.5 billion. He told the court CVG has more than 55 nonstop destinations, a heavy cargo presence that makes it one of North America’s top cargo airports and about 16,000 badge holders working on campus.

The presentation outlined several major projects: a new baggage‑handling system to replace legacy equipment (Crowder said the airport financed part of that work with about $220 million in bonds), an ongoing terminal modernization program called Elevate CVG (upgrades to finishes, HVAC, restrooms and passenger flow), and capital planning for a Global Logistics Park and “Hangar Row” to support cargo and maintenance tenants. Crowder noted a $20 million grant from the Commonwealth of Kentucky has been used for planning and related infrastructure work.

On cargo, Crowder said DHL is building a large hangar expected to open in 2026 that will accommodate two Boeing 777 wide‑body aircraft; he said Amazon is expanding hub operations and planning additional aircraft activity in the late afternoon. Both carriers were described as committing to wide‑body freighter aircraft that increase cargo capacity at CVG.

Crowder described the baggage system being specified as a tray system rather than a belt system and said it will accept larger suitcases and include enhanced screening and state‑of‑the‑art explosive detection equipment. He said the airport sold bonds to support the project and is phasing installation so the current system continues to operate during the work.

Crowder and Grant County board member Mike Drysdale discussed workforce development and training partnerships. Crowder said CVG received an FAA grant to hire staff focused on workforce development; the airport provides tours and programming to local schools and works with nearby technical programs that train A&P mechanics. He said CVG was the first airport to gain full Airports Council International accreditation for workforce development. Crowder highlighted partnerships with on‑campus employers and training providers that create a hiring pipeline.

On local impacts and surface transportation, Crowder said the airport is coordinating with OKI (the regional metropolitan planning organization) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on road improvements near the airport, including intersection upgrades and capacity work. He also said the airport is exploring whether taking responsibility for nearby roadways could accelerate projects.

Floor discussions included domestic‑violence and human‑trafficking response measures. Crowder said airport staff are attentive to those issues and that CVG is exploring installing phones and signage in restrooms as part of the terminal modernization to provide a discreet way for people to call for assistance; picking up such a phone would trigger a law‑enforcement response, he said, based on previous experience at other airports.

Magistrates and the judge thanked Crowder and Mike Drysdale, the county’s representative on the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport Board, for the briefing. Crowder said he would return with periodic updates. No formal county action was taken on the presentation itself; the item was a report to the court.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the CVG presentation and the court’s Q&A.