Yes, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is open and operating as essential infrastructure in our community, supporting passenger and cargo travel. Airlines have adjusted their schedules to address the decrease in travel demand. Travelers should check with their airlines on the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Airline contact information.

Effective July 10, 2020, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is requiring the use of face masks for a minimum of 30 days.  This has been extended multiple times and is still in effect.   

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Most of the airlines require masks.  Please visit here to learn requirements by the airline.    Ground transportation services may require masks as well.  Please visit here to contact these companies that service CVG.  

If you don’t have a mask upon arrival, some of the airlines may be distributing masks. The airport stores may be selling PPE gear, including masks. Check here for more information.

Beginning in May 2020, numerous domestic and international airlines are requiring travelers wear face masks. Here is a list of carriers with known face mask requirements; however, it may not be comprehensive (last updated: June 26, 2020). If you have a question about your travel, you should check with your airline.

Domestic Carriers:

• Allegiant Airlines: Effective, July 2
• American Airlines: Effective May 11 
• Delta Air Lines: Effective May 4
• Frontier Airlines: Effective May 8
• Southwest: Effective May 11 
• United Airlines: Effective May 4 

International Carriers:

• Air Canada: Effective April 20 
• Air France: Effective May 11 
  

Some airport restaurants, stores and services are open with reduced hours. Open concessions can be found here.

CVG Airport’s priority has always been creating the safest way to travel.  We are open for you.  We are prepared and committed to ensuring your travels are safe and healthy. 

For the latest operational updates about health, safety, and enhanced procedures at the airport, click here.

For information on your responsibility as a traveler, click here. 

International Travel

U.S. citizens and permanent residents returning to the U.S. are directed to voluntarily self-quarantine under CDC best practices. The U.S. government recommends that travelers stay home for 14 days after traveling from countries with widespread and ongoing transmission or who have been on cruise ships or river cruises. Recommended precautions include staying home until 14 days after arrival and maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others, self-monitoring for symptoms, avoiding contact with people at higher risk for severe illness, and following CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Domestic Travel

There are currently no federal restrictions in place for domestic travel. Depending on your final destination, there may be state-level guidance applicable for your return.

Visit our RESOURCES section for links to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana for specifics to travelers from those areas, as well as other helpful links.

When entering any airport facility, you attest to the following.

• I am currently not running a fever above 100.4˚ or using medication to lower a fever.
• I am not experiencing shortness of breath, cough or other respiratory illness.
• I have not had contact without PPE with a person confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19.

You are responsible to ensure your temperature is not elevated before entering the airport. Airlines may update their requirements. Travelers should check with their airlines on any updates before leaving for the airport. Airline contact information.

CVG has consolidated all parking products to the CVG Terminal Garage. The CVG ValuPark, CVG Economy Lot, and CVG Parking Valet products have been temporarily closed in an effort to minimize shuttling, ensure social distancing, and continue offering convenient, safe, and healthy parking for all passengers and employees. Pricing has been reduced at the CVG Terminal Garage to a $10 daily rate for passengers. As passenger volume increases, opening additional lots will be evaluated.

Adjustments have been made to the TSA security checkpoint at CVG to ensure the safety and health of passengers and employees.

• The checkpoint lanes are 6 feet wide, and passengers are requested to remain 6 feet from the party in front and the party behind, which will create a longer line, but a safer one.
• Plexiglass guards have been placed at each TSA podium.
• All TSA officers will be wearing face masks and gloves.
• TSA officers will continue the practice of changing gloves after each pat-down.
• TSA is conducting routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and security screening equipment at the TSA security checkpoint.
• Passengers are allowed to carry on a liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags until further notice.

TSA has also implemented changes to the airport checkpoint. Travelers should expect the following:

• Keep possession of their boarding passes. Instead of handing their boarding pass to a TSA officer at the travel document podium, travelers should now place their boarding pass (paper or electronic) on the boarding pass reader themselves. After scanning, travelers should hold their boarding pass toward the TSA officer to allow the officer to visually inspect it. This change reduces the TSA officer’s need to touch a passenger’s boarding pass thus reducing potential for cross-contamination.

• Separate food for X-ray screening. Passengers should place their carry-on food items into a clear plastic bag and place that bag into a bin. Food items often trigger an alarm during the screening process; separating the food from the carry-on bag lessens the likelihood that a TSA officer will need to open the carry-on bag and remove the food items for a closer inspection. This requirement allows social distancing, reduces the TSA officer’s need to touch a person’s container of food and reduces potential for cross-contamination. TSA Precheck members do not need to remove items from their bags.

• Pack smart. Passengers should take extra care to ensure that they do not have any prohibited items, such as liquids, gels or aerosols in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, in their carry-on bags (water bottles, shampoo). In response to COVID-19, TSA is allowing one liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags. Passengers are required to remove the hand sanitizer from the carry-on bag before being submitted for x-ray screening. If a bag is found to contain a prohibited item, passengers may be directed to return to the divestiture table outside of security with their carry-on bags to remove the item and dispose of the item. The passenger may also be directed back outside of security to remove, items that should have originally been divested (such as laptops, liquids, gels, and aerosols, and large electronics) and resubmit their property for X-ray screening. By resolving alarms in this manner, TSA officers will need to touch the contents inside a carry-on bag much less frequently, reducing the potential for cross-contamination.

• Wear facial protection. TSA officers at checkpoints are now using facial protection. Travelers are encouraged to wear face protection to the checkpoint as well. Please note, however, passengers may need to adjust it during the screening process. Travelers are also encouraged to remove items such as belts, and items from their pockets, like wallets, keys and phones, and put them directly into their carry-on bags instead of into the bins to reduce touch-points during the screening process.

 More info from TSA here 

Airlines have adjusted their schedules to address the decrease in travel demand. Travelers should check with their airlines on the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Airline contact information.

Yes, you may drop off passengers on the departures level of the CVG Airport Terminal. When picking up passengers from CVG, we recommend parking in the CVG Airport Cell Phone Lot until you receive a call or text from your party that they have picked up their baggage and are heading outside. Signage will direct you to the CVG Airport Terminal, arrivals level, to pick up your party.

The AVA is completely open and maintaining normal hours of 8 am - 10 pm.

Various restaurants are selling alcohol when they are open. Cork 'N Bottle also sells bottled alcohol as well as bourbon tastings. 

Check out our concessions information which is updated regularly for days and hours of operation for each of our concession offerings. 

CVG Concessions Update Here

Also, in December 2020, CVG Airport Terminal facilities became a designated Entertainment Destination Center, allowing travelers to take to-go drinks from participating restaurants and bars at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and carry them throughout the designated areas

CVG EDC Info Here

Effective July 10, 2020, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is requiring the use of face masks for a minimum of 30 days. We have reminders placed throughout the airport and also have face masks on hand for anyone to pick up. Airport management requires direct airport employees to wear masks, which is reinforced by leadership within each work group.  Airlines and other tenants are following similar guidance and require their own employees to wear masks in accordance with their own company policies.  We strongly encourage those airlines and tenants to enforce their own policies.

Please visit CVGairport.com/FlyHealthy to learn what we’re doing to ensure the airport is a safe and healthy place for everyone. 

CVG is not requiring anyone to quarantine upon arrival, however, it depends on your destination whether it is encouraged or required there. Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana are encouraging travelers to quarantine when traveling back from states where the COVID cases are above a specific percentage.

Find more information on any travel advisories or state/federal level mandates, visit our Fly Healthy Resource section here.

We also recommend downloading the phone app - Airport Check and Fly - where information can be found for individual airports.  This app is free and coordinated via ACI, Airports Council International.  

Airports and airplanes have gone to extensive lengths to ensure the safety and health of passengers and employees.   CVG Airport updates.  

A recent (October 2020) US Military report showcases the effectiveness of the ventilation systems on aircraft resulting in a low risk of COVID transmittal. 

Here are some resources about the safety on airplanes related to COVID-19:

• Air Travel and COVID-19 Resources
• Information on Cabin Air Quality
• Low Risk of Catching COVID-19 on Flight / reference to October 2020 US Military Report
• US Military Report, Fall 2020
• News story about safety on planes / opinion from infectious disease physician

International Travel Update

(as of January 12, 2021 and effective January 26, 2021)

The CDC has recently updated requirements for testing associated with entering the US from another country.  More info here.

Ongoing:

Travelers should check with their destination’s requirements because specific airlines are required to test based on country or destination mandates.  

We also recommend downloading the phone app - Airport Check & Fly - where information can be found for individual airports.  This app is free and coordinated via ACI, Airports Council International.  

Yes, CVG has free wi-fi available.  Look for CVG Free. 

No, the timeline for the Real ID mandate is October 1, 2021.  

More information can be viewed here on our website.