Lufthansa to launch Frankfurt–Columbus, Ohio's first Europe nonstop

Lufthansa will launch the first nonstop flights between Columbus, Ohio, and Europe on 5 May 2027, operating between Frankfurt (FRA) and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) three times a week. Tickets go on sale on 20 October 2026, according to One Mile at a Time, and the route is backed by Ohio's revenue guarantee programme.

Schedule and aircraft

The flights will run on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Simple Flying and One Mile at a Time give the same timings: LH406 leaves Frankfurt at 11:15 and arrives in Columbus at 14:00, while LH407 leaves Columbus at 16:20 and lands in Frankfurt at 06:15 the next day. The 4,248-mile route is scheduled at 8 hours 45 minutes westbound and 7 hours 55 minutes eastbound.

The aircraft is a Boeing 787-9 with Allegris cabins. The sources agree on 28 business class seats and 28 premium economy seats but differ on economy: One Mile at a Time and Simple Flying report 231 seats (287 in total), while The Points Guy reports 197.

The incentive behind the route

The route benefits from JobsOhio's Air Service Restoration programme, which shares revenue guarantees between the state agency and local partners to reduce airlines' risk. One Mile at a Time reports that JobsOhio has committed $36.8 million alongside $10.1 million from local partners, a combined $46.9 million. Simple Flying stresses that this figure covers the whole programme since 2020, not Lufthansa's guarantee specifically, and that the value of Lufthansa's guarantee has not been disclosed. One Mile at a Time notes that the JobsOhio money comes from liquor sales and argues the real test will be whether the route survives once the incentives end.

Daren Griffin, president of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, said the service "establishes Ohio's gateway to continental Europe". Simple Flying adds that 38 German-based companies operate in the region.

Context for Columbus

According to One Mile at a Time, Columbus's only existing international flights are Air Canada services to Toronto and Montreal and seasonal leisure routes to Cancun. The Points Guy notes that Cincinnati and Cleveland, unlike Columbus, have had European flights; Columbus never did, even as an America West hub. Cincinnati was previously a Delta hub and Cleveland a Continental hub.

Simple Flying says Lufthansa's smaller US routes have performed well, with Frankfurt–St. Louis at an 88% load factor in 2026 against a network average of about 81%, and that the airline has added frequencies gradually elsewhere.

What this means for travellers

• Columbus passengers can fly nonstop to Frankfurt rather than connecting at a US gateway. Simple Flying says Frankfurt offers more than 130 onward destinations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India.
• Tickets go on sale on 20 October 2026 for flights from 5 May 2027.
• The Points Guy reports that Miles & More members can earn and redeem miles, as can members of partner United Airlines' MileagePlus.
• Fares have not been reported. Whether the route will become year-round or gain frequencies has not been stated.

Sources: Simple Flying, One Mile at a Time, The Points Guy.