Ontario International (ONT) wasn’t looking for a digital parking upgrade. In fact, the Southern California airport was focused on adding a new lounge. In the end, it got both by issuing a request for proposals with intentionally wide parameters
In November 2017, local residents voted in favor of building a new terminal at Kansas City International Airport (MCI), with a resounding 75% saying yes to the project. The terminal is scheduled to open at the end of 2023 on the site of the now-closed Terminal A.
Mark Duebner, director of Aviation for Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), worked for the city of Dallas in various capacities before joining the airport team. (He was even the top civilian commander for the Dallas police.) As he amassed experience in various posts, Duebner developed a strong affinity for cultivating purposefully open and constructive relationships with vendors.
Plagued by the frequent need to divert flights due to severe weather, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) recently harnessed the collective brain power of the North Texas Irregular Operations Network to improve timeliness and predictability for passengers. The network, which includes all 23 airports in the DFW diversion area, developed a plan to ensure communication, coordination and collaboration between DFW and its diversion airports, airlines and government agencies. The primary goal: to address and mitigate the effects of diversions on passengers.
Key West may be a small town of only 25,000 residents, but it’s a thriving tourist spot that’s growing in popularity. As a result, passenger traffic at Key West International Airport (EYW) is also projected to rise’to the tune of 2.4% per year for the next 20 years. Airport executives estimate that 750,000 travelers will pass through their island facility by the end of 2018.
Whether travelers visit Honolulu for business or the spectacular sun, sand and surf, most bring along multiple electronic devices to keep in touch with friends and associates.
These days, the internet is the first place many passengers check when looking for information about parking, concessions and other ground-based details regarding air travel. Good or bad, an airport’s website acts as its face and leaves an impression on customers.
Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, MA, is perched on a hill 1,000 feet above sea level, which is high elevation in that area. It’s also one of the snowiest cities in the United States, regularly receiving over 100 inches of white fluff per winter. And although Boston is only about 40 miles away, Worcester experiences significantly different weather patterns. On average, Worcester reports 42 more days of fog per year than Boston. That’s four times the fog occurrence rate.
Philadelphia isn’t only about the Liberty Bell and other key pieces of U.S. history. It’s also the site of a new and innovative approach to airport design and concessions. In October, Philadelphia International (PHL) cut the ribbon on a completely renovated Terminal B and formally marked the end of its $48 million stem-to-stern overhaul.
Just as NASA has a Mission Control room to monitor spacecraft, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) has a ramp control room to track aircraft in non-movement areas. Earlier this year, the airport installed a high-tech system that is especially valuable for monitoring and managing aircraft in areas outside of the visual field of air traffic controllers.
South Florida is a hot tourist area, with air traffic increasing steadily for the last few years. To cope with overall passenger growth and seasonal swings, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is leveraging information technology and automation.
When you hear the word “Orlando,” you probably think of vacation attractions: Disney World. Sea World. Beaches. Golf. Or perhaps you’ve attended an event at the Orange County Convention Center, the second-largest convention complex in the United States.
The city of Austin, TX, has been expanding rapidly for the past several years, with no discernable end in sight. Last year, its population grew by 2.9% (nearly 60,000 people) and forecasters predict that the city will reach the 3 million mark before 2030. As of this March, Austin was home to more than 2 million residents.
When Tim Bradshaw took the helm as executive director at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional (ROA) in 2014, the Virginia airport didn’t have a ground transport policy. These days, ROA not only has a formal policy in place, it also has a new system that uses low-cost beacons to track activity and revenue.
Who would have thought that Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) and Harley-Davidson could have much in common’ As it turns out, the Motor City airport and famed motorcycle-maker use the same robotic delivery carts to improve ergonomic safety for their workers.
When Steve Kjergaard accepted the position as director at Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN) six years ago, he thought it would be a static, solid three-year experience without much fanfare. Boy was he wrong. Shortly after he arrived at the North Dakota facility, an oil boom struck and flooded the area with geologists, oil field workers and contractors. Hotel rooms and rental cars became scarce, and traffic at ISN ballooned.
A new $35 million baggage claim building at Philadelphia International (PHL) isn’t just the final phase of the airport’s $161 million Terminal F expansion; it’s also a concrete example of how PHL is re-sculpting its facilities to adjust to changing market conditions.
With more than 16 million annual enplanements, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is the undisputed grande dame of Massachusetts. What many people don’t know, however, is that during summer, the state’s second-largest airport rivals BOS’ flight operations due to its own volume of general aviation traffic.
Wait times at TSA checkpoints became a hot topic this summer, especially when passengers stuck in screening lines began missing flights after arriving hours before their departure times. As lines grew, so did the frustration, and U.S. airports redoubled ongoing efforts to keep passengers happy while maintaining high security levels.
As competition for passengers grows fierce, some airports are turning into freestanding, amenity-filled cities in their own right. Those actively engaged in the “amenities/service race” often consult survey data to guide their ongoing improvement efforts.
Collaboration and ongoing improvement are guiding principles at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International (YOW). Recent enhancements to the airport’s high-tech operations control center demonstrate how important both are at the Ontario facility.
When Calgary International Airport (YYC) in Alberta opens the doors to its new International Terminal later this year, a new baggage handling system will be among its notable features. The system is designed to run faster, use less energy and facilitate better bag tracking. Importantly, it will also eliminate the need for passengers on connecting flights to claim and recheck their bags.
With huge windows and plenty of open space, the mezzanine in Terminal 1 provides the best airfield views at Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP). And until recently, 5,000 square feet of the prime airport real estate was used for storage. That’s right, storage. Late last year, however, MSP began leveraging its second-story asset to create a new ‘luxury amenity.’ It now leases the mezzanine space to MAG USA for an upscale common-use passenger lounge. MAG USA is the U.S. subsidiary of U.K.-based Manchester Airport Group, which owns and operates four British airports, including Manchester Airport and London Stansted Airport.
When Uber burst onto the scene several years ago, using a smartphone app to arrange rides from privately owned vehicles struck a chord with select customers. Early adopters bragged enthusiastically about the money they were saving, other companies launched similar services and a new business model was born: transportation network companies (TNCs).
When disaster strikes, airport staff must react quickly and decisively – almost instinctively. That’s why annual emergency training is so important. It helps employees perform appropriately and safely by providing opportunities to practice their particular roles in prescribed response procedures.
