The Overnight Guests We Actually Want: Republic and Envoy at CMH
I had just sat down and was two sips into my coffee when the phone rang.
“This is Republic. Can we park on line 4 of the East Ramp tonight?”
I already knew the answer. So did they. Snow was on the radar. Deice operations were scheduled for the morning. Every line we had was going to be needed.
But they asked anyway.
That kind of call might seem random, but it’s actually a sign of something really good happening at CMH. It all starts with two airlines most passengers probably don’t know about. Republic and Envoy.
And those two airlines are a big reason we keep getting more flights out of Columbus.
Who Republic and Envoy Actually Are
Republic and Envoy are both regional airlines, but their business models are a little unusual.
Republic doesn’t sell tickets under its own name. They fly for American, Delta, and United. So you might book a flight on one of those airlines, but the plane, crew, and maintenance are all Republic. They’re everywhere, but most people never notice.
Envoy is simpler. They only fly for American Airlines. They’re fully owned by American, and most of the American Eagle flights you see at CMH are Envoy aircraft.
Both airlines fly shorter routes using Embraer jets. And both of them maintain those jets right here in Columbus.
That part matters more than people realize.
Why Maintenance at CMH Is a Big Deal
Airlines do not like flying empty airplanes. If a plane needs maintenance, they either have to send it somewhere empty or schedule flights around where their maintenance hangars are.
If you can fix planes in Columbus, you schedule flights to Columbus.
That’s why these hangars are such a big win for CMH. Instead of ending the day somewhere else and ferrying a jet in just for maintenance, the airlines want to end the day here. They RON (Remain Overnight). The plane gets worked on while everyone sleeps, and it flies out again in the morning.
More RONs means more flights. More flights means more destinations. That’s how airports grow.
Why I Work With Them So Much on Third Shift
I work third shift. That’s when the terminal quiets down, the last arrivals come in, and the overnight maintenance plans start moving.
That’s also when Republic and Envoy start calling.
They want to know where they can park planes overnight. Sometimes it’s one. Sometimes it’s five. And they usually want the same ramps every time.
The East Ramp
This is the massive concrete pad on the east side of the airfield. You can park up to 12 737s and 2 E170s out there (or any combination of those). In the summer, it’s prime real estate. In the winter, it becomes one of our main deice locations. When deice is active, overnight parking is not happening. That does not stop them from asking.
The Firehouse Ramp
This ramp sits right outside ARFF and can fit about five Embraer jets. It is also a deice location. Which makes it extremely valuable in the winter. And extremely requested. They love asking for this ramp when it’s cold because during the summer, they are able to use it every night.
The Southeast Cargo Ramp
This ramp is right next to their hangars. There is space. There is access. It makes perfect sense. And yet, they do not like using it.
When Deice Season Hits, The Bargaining Begins
In the summer, it’s easy. We shuffle planes, assign lines, and everyone is happy.
In the winter, things change.
When the East Ramp and Firehouse Ramp are active deice locations, we need every single line available. That means no overnight parking. That’s when the bargaining starts.
“It’s just one plane.”
“We’ll move it early.”
“It’ll be gone before deice starts.”
“Can we tuck it on the edge?”
They try everything.
The Perfect Example of How They Work Us
This week, my supervisor told me something during shift briefing that made me laugh.
Earlier in the day, Republic had called him and asked to use the Firehouse Ramp overnight. This was with deice operations planned for the morning and every deice line already accounted for.
He told them no.
Then Republic asked him a follow up question.
“Is Jordan going to be there tonight?”
My supervisor said yes.
Republic’s response was, “I’ll call him back later.”
That is how they work us.
Sure enough, a few hours later, my phone rang.
Same question. Same ramp. Same answer.
No.
And I will admit, I was probably less kind about it than I am most nights. Because I already knew they had tried once. They just hoped a shift change might get them a different answer.
It’s annoying. But it’s also kind of funny.
Why This Matters to Everyone Flying Out of CMH
If you’ve ever wondered why CMH keeps adding flights or why there are so many regional routes to big hubs, this is part of the reason.
Planes need maintenance. When airlines can maintain planes here, they schedule more flights here. Instead of flying empty to another city, they end the day in Columbus.
That’s good for the airport. It’s good for the airlines. And it’s good for passengers who want more options when they travel.
So yeah, sometimes that means I’m saying no to parking requests at three in the morning. But I’ll take that every time.
Planes staying overnight is a sign we’re doing something right.
And because of that, I’ll keep answering the phone.
Why I’m doing this
Partly because people keep asking me, “What do you do?” and I want to be able to point to something that actually shows it.
But mostly?
Because I don’t want to forget what I’m learning.
This job is crazy. It’s complicated. It’s full of nuance. You can work here for twenty years and still not know everything. And I don’t want the lessons to slip past me just because I didn’t take five minutes to write them down.
So this is my version of capturing it.
One post at a time. One story at a time. One lesson at a time.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the jet bridge, out past the taxiway lights, or behind those giant “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” doors… you’re in the right place.
Let’s get to work.