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New Satellite Concourse Provides Efficient Gate Expansion at Nashville Int’l
New Satellite Concourse Provides Efficient Gate Expansion at Nashville Int’l
To accommodate increased passenger demand, Nashville International Airport® (BNA®) recently constructed a standalone Satellite Concourse adjacent to its main terminal. The 89,000-square-foot structure opened in October 2023 and now houses operations primarily for Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines.
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Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Bolsters Employee Security Screening Program
Dallas Fort Worth Int’l Bolsters Employee Security Screening Program
Efficiency and efficacy are the watchwords for employee security screening at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
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Denver Int’l Completes State-of-the-Art West Security Checkpoint
Denver Int’l Completes State-of-the-Art West Security Checkpoint
In the last two decades, passenger volume has nearly doubled at DEN, and security technology has changed considerably. As part of the airport’s Great Hall Program, a $2.1 billion capital improvement project, all checkpoints are moving up a level—both physically and technologically.
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Harry Reid Int’l Tests Self-Service Checkpoint
Harry Reid Int’l Tests Self-Service Checkpoint
For 23 years, TSA has screened passengers and their belongings at U.S. airports to help keep air travel safe. The traffic is staggering, with an average 2.5 million people passing through checkpoints at more than 430 airports each day, and even more during holidays and other surges.
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Safety Management Systems: Lessons from the Airline Sector
Safety Management Systems: Lessons from the Airline Sector
Nearly a decade ago, the FAA Safety Organization issued a final rule requiring Part 121 certificated operators—scheduled commercial airlines—to implement Safety Management Plans. The goal was to help carriers detect and correct safety risks before they become hazards.
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Historic Wildfires Prompt Kelowna Int’l to Move Commercial Flights From Day to Night
Historic Wildfires Prompt Kelowna Int’l to Move Commercial Flights From Day to Night
With wildfires raging throughout British Columbia last summer, two things kept Kelowna International Airport (YLW) ahead of the game: good working relationships with the provincial and national governments, and partners such as Nav Canada.
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Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Completes Five-Gate Addition
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Completes Five-Gate Addition
With an eye on growth and a heightened commitment to passenger comfort, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) unveiled a 30,000-square-foot terminal expansion in mid-February.
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New ARFF Facility Boosts Efficiency, Paves Way for New Terminal at Monterey Regional
New ARFF Facility Boosts Efficiency, Paves Way for New Terminal at Monterey Regional
A new $9.9 million aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) station is enhancing operational efficiency at Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), as well as providing a more comfortable environment for the personnel that call it home for days at a time.
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Punta Gorda Closes Runway, Powers Through Rebuild Project
Punta Gorda Closes Runway, Powers Through Rebuild Project
File it under “good things come to those who wait.” The roughly year-long reconstruction and rehabilitation of the primary runway at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) was a welcome improvement that took patience, planning and lots of enabling projects.
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Moving Walkways Replace Decades-Old Monorail at Tampa Int’l
Moving Walkways Replace Decades-Old Monorail at Tampa Int’l
Guests at Tampa International Airport (TPA) can now use a series of moving walkways to quickly travel through the long-term parking garage to the adjacent main terminal, and vice versa.
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New Outdoor Deck Relieves Passenger Congestion at Charlottetown Airport
New Outdoor Deck Relieves Passenger Congestion at Charlottetown Airport
While some airports have struggled to recover passenger traffic lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, the opposite is true at Charlottetown Airport (YYG) on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada. In 2023, the airport recorded 402,686 passengers—an increase of more than 18% from 2022.
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Southwest Hangar Complex at Gulf Shores Int’l is Full
Southwest Hangar Complex at Gulf Shores Int’l is Full
If Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA) were a hotel, management could hang up a “No Vacancy” sign regarding its available hangar space. Airport Director Justin Fletcher proudly reports that all 13 sites of JKA’s Southwest Corporate Hangar Complex are filled.
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Hawaii Provides State-Owned Airports with Online Platform for Environmental Systems Management
Hawaii Provides State-Owned Airports with Online Platform for Environmental Systems Management
Recognizing the need for robust environmental systems management, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division provides a cloud-based, no-code system for its 15 state-owned and state-operated airports.
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Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is celebrating that longtime binational bond with a temporary art exhibit titled Espacios & Lines.
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Terminal Modernization at Boston Logan Has Passengers and Locals Seeing Red, But in a Good Way
Terminal Modernization at Boston Logan Has Passengers and Locals Seeing Red, But in a Good Way
Nearly 250 years after Paul Revere rode out of Boston warning of a pending advance by British Redcoats, a shimmering red coat of paint warmly welcomes international visitors to the modern airport in his colonial hometown.
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Villeneuve Airport Upgrades Airfield, Adds Facilities to Prepare for Growth

Persistence from local aviation investors and the closure of another nearby municipal airport have spurred unprecedented development at Alberta's Villeneuve Airport (ZVL). Located in a rural area northwest of Edmonton, the two-runway general aviation airport currently handles approximately 54,000 movements per year; but traffic is expected to grow over time.

Cancun Int'l Installs New System to CentralizeInfo Displays at 9 Mexican Airports

A system recently deployed at Cancun International (CUN) is centralizing the operation and management of passenger information displays at nine southeast Mexican airports. Currently in full operation, the system is simultaneously delivering multiple benefits to the traveling public and the airports' operator.

US Airways Upgrades Airside Bus Fleet at Reagan National

Getting passengers in and out is a continual challenge at older East Coast airports, where congestion is often a standard element of the local landscape. Hardstands allow them to accommodate more aircraft and passengers than contact gates alone; but they also create the need to shuttle customers between the tarmac and terminal.

Award-Winning Winter Ops Team Keeps Anchorage Int'l Open

No one at Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) can recall ever having to close the vital Alaskan airport because of snow or ice. Once, yes, because of winds in excess of 100 miles per hour, and once due to volcanic ash from Mount Redoubt; but no one remembers a snow or ice closure.

Atlanta Int'l Adds "Airline-Agnostic" Passenger Lounge

Building on the traditional popularity of airline lounges while also catering to a preponderance of hub and spoke passengers, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has opened an independently-operated common-use lounge that offers extra perks to all passengers for a $35 daily access fee.

Managing Leakage

When playing the word association game, "leakage" would likely prompt answers about diapers and plumbing. But leakage appears everywhere. As publishers, we deal with leakage in areas such as circulation and advertising. As you'll discover in this issue, airports deal with leakage, too. We have two stories in this issue involving leakage, and they couldn't be more different from one another.

Plans for Business Park in the Works at Albuquerque Int'l Sunport

When Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) closed its original runway in 2012, the airport's director of aviation, Jim Hinde, saw a distinct bright side. Hinde envisioned the opportunity to redevelop the land and increase the airport's non-airline revenues by establishing a global business incubator. The change in land use, he reasons, will not only enhance the airport's financial stability, but also benefit the city of Albuquerque and state of New Mexico.

DFW Adds Hotel Hospitality to TSA Checkpoint with Help from Marriott

It wouldn't be hyperbole or marketing hype to say that the newly renovated TSA checkpoint at Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) puts most airport screening areas to shame. The 3,000-square-foot screening station in Terminal E features soft music, mood lighting, oversized artwork, a video wall and other style-conscious décor. Beyond the X-ray machines, passengers don't stoop and wobble awkwardly to put on their shoes and repack carry-ons. They sit on plush couches or stand at tall tables in a specially designed "re-composure area."

New Boarding Pass Scanners Guide Passengers to Gates & Concessions at Boston Logan

What began as a digital signage initiative at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) has evolved to include an industry first: boarding pass scanners that help direct passengers to their gates and deliver information about flight updates and concessions' options along the way. The innovative wayfinding/flight information/marketing combo is not only improving the passenger experience at BOS, it's also inspiring airports around the country to follow suit.

Web-Based Booking Agent Presents Discounted Parking Competition in 70+ Markets

There's a new parking competitor nipping at the heels of airports throughout the United States, but there are no new lots or facilities in sight. The company, Greenbee Parking, books travelers into parking lots at hotels and existing facilities run by off-airport operators via its website, Greenbeeparking.com - at rates ranging anywhere from 30% to 75% less than airport prices. Passengers pay in advance, bring a printed copy of their online confirmation to the participating lot and ride the hotel or off-site operator's shuttle to and from the airport.

Pages

2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement

Giving back to the community is central to what Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, is about, and last year was no different. 

Throughout 2022, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Of particular note, we spent the year sharing stories of how Connections Don't Just Happen at the Terminal - from creating homeownership and employment opportunities to supporting economic growth through small-business development and offering outreach programs to help residents understand the Airport better.

This whitepaper highlights the construction projects, initiatives, programs and events that validate Charlotte Douglas as a premier airport.

Download the whitepaper: 2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement.

 

 

Featured Video

US Airways Upgrades Airside Bus Fleet at Reagan National

Getting passengers in and out is a continual challenge at older East Coast airports, where congestion is often a standard element of the local landscape. Hardstands allow them to accommodate more aircraft and passengers than contact gates alone; but they also create the need to shuttle customers between the tarmac and terminal.

Award-Winning Winter Ops Team Keeps Anchorage Int'l Open

No one at Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) can recall ever having to close the vital Alaskan airport because of snow or ice. Once, yes, because of winds in excess of 100 miles per hour, and once due to volcanic ash from Mount Redoubt; but no one remembers a snow or ice closure.

Atlanta Int'l Adds "Airline-Agnostic" Passenger Lounge

Building on the traditional popularity of airline lounges while also catering to a preponderance of hub and spoke passengers, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has opened an independently-operated common-use lounge that offers extra perks to all passengers for a $35 daily access fee.

Managing Leakage

When playing the word association game, "leakage" would likely prompt answers about diapers and plumbing. But leakage appears everywhere. As publishers, we deal with leakage in areas such as circulation and advertising. As you'll discover in this issue, airports deal with leakage, too. We have two stories in this issue involving leakage, and they couldn't be more different from one another.

Plans for Business Park in the Works at Albuquerque Int'l Sunport

When Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) closed its original runway in 2012, the airport's director of aviation, Jim Hinde, saw a distinct bright side. Hinde envisioned the opportunity to redevelop the land and increase the airport's non-airline revenues by establishing a global business incubator. The change in land use, he reasons, will not only enhance the airport's financial stability, but also benefit the city of Albuquerque and state of New Mexico.

DFW Adds Hotel Hospitality to TSA Checkpoint with Help from Marriott

It wouldn't be hyperbole or marketing hype to say that the newly renovated TSA checkpoint at Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) puts most airport screening areas to shame. The 3,000-square-foot screening station in Terminal E features soft music, mood lighting, oversized artwork, a video wall and other style-conscious décor. Beyond the X-ray machines, passengers don't stoop and wobble awkwardly to put on their shoes and repack carry-ons. They sit on plush couches or stand at tall tables in a specially designed "re-composure area."

New Boarding Pass Scanners Guide Passengers to Gates & Concessions at Boston Logan

What began as a digital signage initiative at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) has evolved to include an industry first: boarding pass scanners that help direct passengers to their gates and deliver information about flight updates and concessions' options along the way. The innovative wayfinding/flight information/marketing combo is not only improving the passenger experience at BOS, it's also inspiring airports around the country to follow suit.

Web-Based Booking Agent Presents Discounted Parking Competition in 70+ Markets

There's a new parking competitor nipping at the heels of airports throughout the United States, but there are no new lots or facilities in sight. The company, Greenbee Parking, books travelers into parking lots at hotels and existing facilities run by off-airport operators via its website, Greenbeeparking.com - at rates ranging anywhere from 30% to 75% less than airport prices. Passengers pay in advance, bring a printed copy of their online confirmation to the participating lot and ride the hotel or off-site operator's shuttle to and from the airport.

Bellingham Int'l Adds Gates & Triples Terminal Size to Serve Canadian-Fueled Growth

Like many U.S. airports scattered along the Canadian border, Bellingham International Airport (BLI) in Washington has faced interesting challenges presented by a growing influx of Canadian travelers who cross the border for less expensive U.S. airfares. A $38.5 million expansion project that ended in February, however, seems to be just the tonic it needed.

New Snow Removal Equipment & Procedures Pay Off at Indianapolis Int'l

It's almost as if Indianapolis International Airport (IND) was tipped off that this would be a particularly harsh winter in the Midwest. Last summer, the airport completely revised its winter operations by implementing new procedures, taking delivery of millions of dollars in new snow removal equipment and presenting a new curriculum of crew training.

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Publisher's Blog

What’s in a Name?
I’m all for improving our airports. But do new names necessarily make them better?
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Industry Insider

Cyberattacks on the Aviation Sector: Threats, Trends and Strategies
The aviation industry has been a prime target for nefarious cyberattacks over the last few years.
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Project Nominations

Know of a project that should be covered in a future issue of Airport Improvement?

Artscapes

Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is celebrating that longtime binational bond with a temporary art exhibit titled...
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