Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) has its very own slice of the Northern Lights, and it's a doozy. The Aurora is an interactive light sculpture by new media artist Jen Lewin that spirals down from the ticketing lobby of Terminal 1, through an opening in the floor, to the baggage claim area on the ground floor. Named for the aurora borealis, the 29-foot-tall, 740-pound sculpture combines artistry and engineering to celebrate the colorful lights that periodically appear in Minnesota's northern sky.
In a flash, the information that airports routinely collect about arrivals, departures, passenger counts, etc. has become more important than ever. Records detailing where each passenger originated, for instance, are crucial in light of COVID-19 travel restrictions and advisories.
When Salt Lake City International (SLC) opened the first phase of its $4.1 billion redevelopment program to passengers in mid-September, airport officials understood the importance of making the most of that investment. So they took the uncommon opportunity of having a fresh, new facility to simultaneously implement a fresh, new approach to asset management.
Cargo has been an important bright spot during the COVID-19 pandemic for many U.S. airports'especially Ontario International (ONT), located just 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles. With passenger traffic down about 50% from 2019 to 2020, ONT experienced double-digit increases in commercial freight volume almost every month last year. And 2021 may be even better.
When COVID-19 first began lashing the United States last winter, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) initiated a multimillion-dollar response effort within weeks. As early as January 2020, the airport increased its cleaning/disinfecting frequency and rolled out strategies and procedures specifically designed to address the emerging global health crisis.
Memphis International Airport (MEM) recently addressed several separate, but related, facility issues in one deft move. By constructing a new nerve center for operations and maintenance, the Tennessee airport not only substantially increased its own efficiency, it also accommodated the expansion needs of its largest tenant, FedEx.
Leadership decided to parlay the organization's experience operating and managing Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG), Canada's seventh busiest airport for passenger traffic and the busiest for air cargo, into a consulting firm for other Canadian airports. Executives felt that the strategy would not only support WAA's financial well-being, but also allow the organization to 'give back' to the airport community.
March is usually a very busy month at Grand Cayman's Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM), with tourists streaming in to enjoy beaches, coral reefs and other western Caribbean attractions. After years of tremendous growth in passenger traffic, officials were looking forward to a record-breaking March last year. And then COVID-19 effectively closed the entire island, including its airport.
Ever feel like the finish line keeps moving farther away' Jon Stout, airport manager at Charles M. Schulz'Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, CA, knows just what you mean. Stout and his team are in the midst of a $31 million terminal expansion and renovation that began in November. But even when they cut the ribbon in fall 2022, STS will only have 70% of the recommended space to handle its peak passenger volume.
Knowing that late-spring snowstorms can be among the heaviest and hardest to clear, airport operations managers in cold-weather cities like Manchester, NH, and Minneapolis implemented plans to keep their maintenance crews safe while also remaining ready to clear away snow. Thankfully, most of North America was spared significant snowfall for the remainder of the season. The challenge of keeping workers safe increased in late spring as COVID-19 cases rose, but the concern about getting socked with a major snowfall subsided.
Sometimes a parking garage is more than just a place to park vehicles. A case in point is the five-story structure at Albany International Airport (ALB). The new garage and associated terminal upgrades completed last spring signal important changes unfolding at the eastern New York airport. Other changes include a new state-funded interstate exit that serves ALB.
Replacing a dated and inefficient building, the new terminal includes more space, updated security and several firsts for APN: a passenger boarding bridge, an automated baggage system and airside restrooms. While adding the new amenities, the airport and design team also managed to pay homage to the region's rich industrial background, storied maritime history and rustic Northwoods surroundings.
Chicago is widely known as the Windy City, but it's also snowy and icy. That creates challenging conditions at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), said to be home of the busiest sustained winter airport operations in the world. This past season, for instance, it processed more than 1,200 flights per day.
