Cologne Airport: A Sprawling Transportation Hub?

Cologne Bonn Airport is one of Germany's few 24-hour airports, serving around 12.4 million passengers per year. The airport is located in the district of Porz, about 15km southeast of Cologne and 16km northeast of Bonn. It is jointly owned by the City of Cologne, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the City of Bonn, and two counties. The airport has two terminals, with various transport options available, including bus, train, and car rental services. Terminal 1 offers restaurants, shops, check-in facilities, and a visitors' deck, while Terminal 2 has a more limited selection of dining and retail options. Cologne Bonn Airport is a significant cargo hub and acts as a base for several major airlines.

Cologne Bonn Airport's terminals, facilities and services

Terminals

Cologne Bonn Airport has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which are situated next to each other. The older Terminal 1, built in the 1970s, features a U-shaped main building with shops, restaurants, check-in and service facilities, and a visitors deck on its roof. Terminal 2, located to the north of Terminal 1, is a modern glass and steel structure with its own check-in facilities. Both terminals are connected through a landside walkway, and the airport is currently seeking approval for an airside connection between them.

Facilities

Cologne Bonn Airport offers a variety of facilities to cater to the needs of travellers. The airport has ATMs and currency exchange services in both terminals, with Terminal 1 also offering a pharmacy and a doctor and dental practice. There is a left luggage facility in Arrivals at Terminal 2, and an observation deck on Level 5 of Terminal 1. The airport provides standard accessibility features such as ramps, elevators, and modified toilets, and disabled parking is available in several car parks. Additionally, the Wöllhaf Conference Centre in Terminal 1 offers conference and meeting rooms.

Services

The airport provides a range of dining options, with Terminal 1 offering a wider variety of choices than Terminal 2. Restaurants and cafes include McDonald's, Burger King, Segafredo, Starbucks, and La Piazza. There are also various shopping options, including duty-free shops, fashion boutiques, electronics stores, and souvenir stores in both terminals. The airport offers free Wi-Fi access, and a post office is located in Arrivals at Terminal 2.

Transport to and from the airport

Transport to and from Cologne Airport

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) has excellent connections to local and long-distance public transport. The airport is located 12-15km southeast of Cologne city centre and is easily accessible by train, bus, taxi, car, and plane.

Train

The airport has its own ICE railway station, located near both terminals, with connections to local and long-distance trains. The S-Bahn S19 towards Düren and regional trains RE6 and RB27 connect the airport with Cologne Central Station in around 11-15 minutes. The Intercity-Express (ICE) high-speed train is the fastest option, taking just 10 minutes, but it is more expensive at €8 per person. The KölnCard offers fixed-time access to public transport and discounts on attractions, museums, tours, and restaurants.

Bus

Local bus line 161 connects the airport with Cologne, and route SB60 connects with Bonn. Bus 161 travels between the airport and Porz Markt train station every 30 to 60 minutes from 4.18 am to 11.48 pm, taking about 15 minutes. The Airport Express SB60 runs between the airport and Bonn Hauptbahnhof (ZOB) in around 30 minutes, departing every 30 minutes on weekdays and less frequently on weekends and holidays.

Taxi

Taxis are available at the airport arrivals level and the journey to downtown Cologne takes about 15 minutes, costing around €27. Uber also operates in Cologne, offering a convenient alternative.

Car

The airport has its own exit on motorway A59, providing easy access to and from Cologne and Bonn city centres.

Plane

Cologne Bonn Airport is an international airport serving various destinations. It is one of the few 24-hour airports in the country and is a hub for Eurowings, FedEx Express, and UPS Airlines. It offers flights to 115 passenger destinations in 35 countries, including London, New York, and Dubai.

The airport's history

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is the fourth-busiest airport in Germany, serving approximately 12.4 million passengers in 2017 and 2019. The airport is located in the district of Porz, 12 km southeast of Cologne city centre, and is surrounded by the Wahner Heide nature reserve.

The history of the airport dates back to 1938 when the first airfield was built on the site for the German Luftwaffe. After World War II, the British military took over and expanded the airport, naming it RAF Wahn. During this period, a 1,866-metre runway was constructed, which became the longest runway in Germany at the time.

In 1950, the airport was opened for civilian air traffic, serving both Cologne and the new capital of West Germany, Bonn. The first scheduled international route was inaugurated on January 1, 1951, with flights between London, Cologne/Bonn, and Berlin operated by BEA. The airport's expansion continued with the addition of a second runway in 1954 and a third in 1961. Lufthansa inaugurated the first scheduled intercontinental service from Cologne/Bonn to New York City in 1961.

The new passenger terminal, which is still in use today as Terminal 1, was opened in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, the airport's passenger and freight facilities were significantly expanded. By 1978, the airport handled more than 2 million passengers annually.

In 1986, United Parcel Service (UPS) chose Cologne Bonn Airport as the location for their European hub, and TNT Express followed suit in 1988. By 1990, the airport was handling 3 million passengers per year. To accommodate this growth, the airport underwent another major expansion in the mid-1990s, which included the construction of a new control tower and Terminal 2, which opened in 2000.

In 2004, a new long-distance railway station was opened, providing convenient connections to InterCityExpress trains. The airport has continued to develop and attract new airlines, including low-cost carriers, contributing to a significant increase in passenger numbers. Today, Cologne Bonn Airport is a major cargo hub and a busy passenger airport, serving over 12 million passengers annually.

Nearby attractions and accommodation

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is located 12-15 km southeast of Cologne city centre and is surrounded by the Wahner Heide nature reserve. The airport is 13 minutes away from the city centre of Cologne by train, with tickets costing $5-8. There are 1486+ hotels available in Cologne, with prices starting at $48 USD per night.

Cologne is the largest city in the North Rhine-Westphalia area and is a cultural hub in Western Europe. Some attractions in the city include the Cologne Dome, the Chocolate Museum, and the street food festival.

For those looking for a place to stay near the airport, the SMARTY Cologne Airport Hotel offers a modern and affordable overnight stay. The hotel provides conveniences such as free parking, a quick and easy breakfast buffet, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a 24-hour snack and coffee place.

Other nearby airports to Cologne include Dusseldorf (25.4 miles), Dortmund (49.7 miles), Hahn (70 miles), and Eindhoven (77 miles).

Airlines that use the airport

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is the fourth busiest airport in Germany, with approximately 12.4 million passengers passing through in 2019. The airport is a hub for Eurowings, FedEx Express, and UPS Airlines, and a focus city for several leisure and low-cost airlines, including Ryanair and Corendon Airlines Europe.

More than 30 airlines fly from Cologne Bonn Airport, with services to 112 destinations in 35 countries. The airport has two operative terminals and three runways. The most popular destinations include Munich, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Heathrow, Vienna International Airport, and Palma de Mallorca Airport.

The airport is located 15 kilometres southeast of Cologne city centre and is surrounded by the Wahner Heide nature reserve. It is one of the few 24-hour airports in the country and is easily accessible by road, rail, and bus.

Some of the airlines that operate from Cologne Bonn Airport include:

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Arabia Maroc
• Air Cairo
• Air Serbia
• Atlasglobal
• Austrian Airlines
• British Airways
• Corendon Airlines
• Corendon Airlines Europe
• Eurowings
• Freebird Airlines
• Hex'Air
• Iran Air
• Jet2
• Lufthansa
• Nile Air
• Pegasus
• Ryanair
• Ryanair UK
• SunExpress
• Turkish Airlines
• Wizz Air
• Wizz Air Malta

Frequently asked questions