Cologne Bonn Airport: Who Flies This Route?

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is a hub for European city breaks, beach holidays, and business trips. The airport is served by a variety of airlines, including Eurowings, Delta, American Airlines, British Airways, and Turkish Airlines. Eurowings offers flights to Cologne Bonn from 92 airports, with prices starting at €29.99. Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines also provide flights to Cologne, with prices varying depending on the origin and time of booking.

Airlines that fly to Cologne Bonn Airport

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is an international airport located 12km southeast of Cologne and 16km northeast of Bonn. It is Germany's seventh-largest airport by passenger numbers, serving around 12.4 million passengers in 2017. The airport is centrally located in the Cologne Bonn Region and is one of the few 24-hour airports in the country.

Cologne Bonn Airport is served by several airlines, including:

• Eurowings, which operates the most routes to CGN, connecting 72 airports to the airport.
• Ryanair, the second-biggest airline in terms of operated flight routes to CGN, with 36 routes.
• Pegasus, with 9 routes to CGN.
• SunExpress, with 7 routes.
• Corendon, with 6 routes.
• Jet2, with 4 routes.
• Air Cairo, with 3 routes.
• AJet, with 2 routes.
• Ryanair UK, with 2 routes.
• Marabu, with 2 routes.
• Aegean, with 2 routes.
• Air Arabia Maroc, with 2 routes.

The airport also serves as a hub for FedEx Express and UPS Airlines and is a focus city for several leisure and low-cost airlines. It is easily accessible via road and rail, with a direct connection to the railway station and an exit on the A59 motorway.

How to get to Cologne Bonn Airport

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is the international airport of Germany's fourth-largest city, Cologne, and also serves Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. The airport is located in the district of Porz and is surrounded by Wahner Heide, a nature reserve. It is 12 km southeast of the Cologne city centre and 16 km northeast of Bonn.

By Air

The airport is served by 23 airlines, including:

• Eurowings
• Ryanair
• Pegasus
• SunExpress
• Corendon
• Jet2
• Air Cairo
• AJet
• Ryanair UK
• Marabu
• Aegean
• Air Arabia Maroc

By Train

Cologne Bonn Airport is well connected by rail. The airport has its own railway station with a four-track loop off the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed line. This connects the airport to long-distance trains at least once an hour per direction, most of them ICE services. The station is directly across both terminals under a large glass roof and features direct connections to the basement of Terminal 2, as well as the check-in area at Terminal 1-C. The S-Bahn line S 19 to Düren and regional train line RE 6 to Minden (Westfalen) connect the airport station with Cologne Main Station. RB 27 and RE 8 between Mönchengladbach and Koblenz also call at the airport station.

By Road

The airport has its own exit (named Flughafen) on motorway A59, which links it to the city centres of Cologne and Bonn, as well as the Ruhrgebiet. Local bus lines also connect the airport with Cologne (route 161) and Bonn (route SB60). A new coach terminal also opened in 2015, providing connections to other German cities and European countries.

History of Cologne Bonn Airport

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is an international airport located in the district of Porz, 12 km southeast of Cologne city centre and 16 km northeast of Bonn. It is Germany's seventh-largest airport by passenger numbers, serving approximately 12.4 million passengers in 2017, and the third-largest by cargo operations. The airport covers 1,000 hectares and contains three runways.

The history of Cologne Bonn 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 control and expanded the airport, known as RAF Wahn (B-119), constructing a 1,866-metre runway. In 1950, the airport was opened for civilian air traffic, serving both Cologne and the then-new capital of West Germany, Bonn.

The first scheduled international route was inaugurated on January 1, 1951, connecting London, Cologne/Bonn, and Berlin, operated by BEA. A second and third runway were opened in 1954 and 1961, respectively. Lufthansa inaugurated the first scheduled intercontinental service from Cologne/Bonn to New York City in 1961.

The current Terminal 1 was inaugurated in 1970, and the airport's passenger and cargo facilities were significantly expanded during that decade. By 1978, the airport was handling more than 2 million passengers annually.

In 1986, United Parcel Service (UPS) chose Cologne Bonn Airport as the location for their European hub, followed by TNT Express in 1988. The airport continued to grow, and by 1990, it was handling 3 million passengers per year. In the mid-1990s, another major expansion program was undertaken, which included the construction of several new parking lots, a new control tower, and a second terminal, which opened in 2000.

In 2004, a new long-distance railway station was opened, providing connections to InterCityExpress trains. The airport has also attracted several low-cost carriers, including Germanwings, TUIfly, easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, contributing to significant growth in passenger numbers.

Today, Cologne Bonn Airport is a major cargo hub and a hub for Eurowings, FedEx Express, and UPS Airlines, as well as a focus city for several leisure and low-cost airlines. It is also home to a training centre for the German and European astronaut programmes, part of the European Space Agency.

What to do in Cologne and Bonn

Cologne and Bonn are two German cities that offer a plethora of attractions for visitors. Here is a list of things to do and see in each city:

Cologne

• The Kölner Dom, or Cologne Cathedral, is a must-see for any visitor to the city. This Gothic masterpiece, with its towering spires and intricate stained glass, is an iconic symbol of Cologne and a testament to its rich history.
• Take a stroll along the Hohenzollern Bridge, adorned with half a million love locks, and enjoy scenic views of the Rhine River and the cityscape.
• Visit the NS Documentation Centre, a museum that provides an insightful look into Germany's past, particularly the sobering realities of World War II, with an audio guide available for non-German speakers.
• Explore the Historic Old Town, with its colourful buildings, cobbled lanes, and resilient post-war ambiance. The area offers diverse dining and shopping options.
• Indulge in the beer and brewery culture of Cologne, with numerous pubs and taverns to choose from. The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour is a popular choice.
• Discover the Romanesque church of Saint Gereon, dating back to the 11th century, with its unique architecture, including a dome and intricate floor mosaic.
• Admire the artworks at the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, which houses a collection spanning from the 13th to the 19th century.
• Relax in the tranquil Botanical Gardens Flora, with its diverse array of global flora, serene picnic spots, and a charming outdoor café.
• Learn about the history of perfume at the Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus, where you can also enjoy a whiff of the famous Eau de Cologne.
• Take a cruise down the River Rhine, soaking in the incredible scenic views along the way.
• Explore the Agnesviertel district, a bohemian neighbourhood known for its colourful array of bars, art galleries, and bookstores.
• Visit the Farina Fragrance Museum to discover the story of Johann Maria Farina, the man who put Cologne on the map.

Bonn

• Explore the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, the famous composer who was born in a humble townhouse in Bonn. The Beethoven-Haus Bonn is now a fascinating museum celebrating his life.
• Visit the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, a museum that offers a fun and informative look at German history from the end of World War II to the present.
• Admire the Kurfürstliches Schloss, the former immodest home of the prince-electors of Cologne, which has been part of Bonn's university since 1818.
• Stroll through the Botanical Garden, best visited during spring and summer when the flowers are in full bloom.
• Discover the Zoologisches Museum Konig, a natural history museum that recreates entire habitats, such as the 'Savannah' exhibit.
• Take a walking tour of Bonn, following in the footsteps of Ludwig van Beethoven, or opt for a self-guided scavenger hunt to explore the city at your own pace.
• Enjoy the annual festivals, such as the Rhein in Flammen firework festival in May and the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in late November.
• Visit the Doppelkirche Schwarzrheindorf, a 12th-century 'double church' where nobility once sat on the upper level, overlooking the common folk below.
• Admire the Altes Rathaus, a rococo gem lavishly decorated with gilded faux marble, frescoes, and a Balthasar Neumann–designed version of the Holy Steps.

Cologne Bonn Airport facilities

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is located between Cologne and Bonn, approximately 15km (9 miles) southeast of Cologne Cathedral and about 20km (12.5 miles) northeast of Bonn-Zentrum. The airport is easily accessible by road, lying between Autobahn 3 (A3) and Autobahn 59 (A59), and has its own train station, which is served by local and regional trains. The airport is also served by bus and taxi services, and car rental is available.

Cologne Bonn Airport has two passenger terminals, which are located beside each other and are linked and walkable. Terminal 1 is a 1970s building with large surfaces of bare concrete in its design. It features a u-shaped main building with shops, restaurants, check-in and service facilities, and a visitors deck on its roof. Terminal 1 also has its own direct connection to the railway station. Terminal 2 is a modern, rectangular building made of glass and steel, with eight stands with jet bridges and several stands for bus-boarding. Terminal 2 is also directly connected to the airport's railway station via the basement level.

Both terminals offer dining options, although Terminal 1 has more choices. There is a good selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, and fast-food outlets. Terminal 1 features a bookshop, a fashion boutique, and a supermarket, while Terminal 2 has a snack shop. There are duty-free shops in both terminals for passengers leaving the EU.

Other facilities at Cologne Bonn Airport include ATMs, currency exchange, a pharmacy, a doctor and dental practice, an observation deck, a conference centre, a post office, and disabled access and parking.

Frequently asked questions