The last few times Boston got clobbered by a hurricane, damage was mitigated because the associated storm surge struck the coast at low tide. But when Hurricane Sandy's powerful surge pounded New York and New Jersey in 2012, officials at Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) realized they might not always be so lucky. As then-mayor Thomas Menino pointed out, Sandy missed high tide in Boston by just five hours.
When Thella Bowens transitioned operation of San Diego International Airport (SAN) from the Port of San Diego to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority a dozen years ago, one of her goals was to create a "world-class organization." Including all types and sizes of businesses in the organization's massive infrastructure projects and everyday business is one of the ways SAN continues to work toward Bowen's sky-high goal.
A series of airfield improvements at South Bimini Airport (YBS) is making it easier for travelers to get to Bimini, the tiny pair of Bahaman islands located just 50 miles off the east coast of Florida. That's good news for beachgoers, sport fishermen and any other North or South American travelers who want to escape to a tropical paradise without spending a lot of time getting there.
Commercial airports certainly know where their travelers are going; but many don't know where they are coming from. Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) in Florida has been tracking such information for about six years, and officials enjoy the rewards that come with being in the know: more targeted advertising campaigns and stronger appeals for additional airline service.
As the debate rages on about ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft operating at U.S. airports, another alternative ground transportation method is quietly spreading throughout the industry: car-sharing services.
Money and airport funding are definitely vital ingredients for creating and maintaining healthy airports. But I submit that there's another topic that should receive equal billing: innovation.
Whether it's for business or leisure, people are visiting Nashville like never before. As Nashville experiences a time of unprecedented growth and opportunity, so does Nashville International Airport (BNA). BNA served more than 11 million passengers in 2014, setting a new record for the airport. This means more opportunities to provide the Nashville Airports Experience - our customer service mantra - to each and every traveler.
When searching for a competitive edge, many airports automatically focus on developing new air service. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is also developing its parking shuttle service.
Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Paul Wiedefeld and other airport officials realized that with more than 25% of their passengers riding buses to and from airport parking lots, the shuttle system could make or break BWI's reputation as an "easy come, easy go" airport. Recent changes to operational practices are already showing measurable improvements, and investments in new technology to enhance customer service are also under way.
"Out with the old, in with the new" is often the sentiment that drives large-scale terminal improvement programs. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) took a different approach during the recent $70 million renovation of its mid-century Terminal 1, by working to preserve iconic architectural elements while infusing efficiency, flexibility and modern systems to carry the facility into the future.
When Charles M. Schultz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) completed a $55 million runway expansion and improvement project last November, it not only met the congressionally mandated December 31, 2014, deadline for runway safety areas, it also added enough runway length to help attract regional jet traffic.
Elmira Corning Regional Airport (ELM) was still in the process of installing a new $2.4 million security system when an arriving passenger prematurely tested some of its new components. The passenger was later discovered to be suffering from dementia, and the 2013 incident decisively validated the decision to invest in new technology at the upstate New York facility.
Some travelers rate airport food only a small step above in-flight airline food. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire is doing its best to change that perception by upgrading its main sit-down restaurant.
Year after year, Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) services half of its annual passenger volume in a short three-month span when tourists flock to area beaches and other Gulf attractions for spring and summer vacations. Thanks to new facilities and recent renovations, the South Carolina airport can expand during its busy season and contract when traffic subsides.
