Getting Rowdy

Sometimes I wonder what consumer media outlets are thinking when they decide what stories to cover about airports and airlines.

Case in point: Earlier this summer, one aviation story seemed to be carried by more news outlets than any other. No, it wasn’t a mountain of unclaimed bags at LHR, passengers stranded at multiple U.S. airports due to cancelled and delayed flights, or pilots earning 3X their normal pay. The story I saw more than any other was about Rowdy the cat—a black feline that escaped her carrier and ran around BOS for three weeks before airport staff finally found and captured her.

Really?! This story had no bearing on anyone’s lives, save for her owners. Why was it deemed newsworthy? Why did it matter? Frankly, I’m not sure.

Either the Rowdy story was a masterful diversion put out by airlines to mask poor passenger experiences or Joe Q Public really is a sucker for news with no impact. I believe we deserve better.

With that in mind, I’d like to draw your attention to our September issue. This edition is a bit different in that we decided to bring you not one, not two, but four terminal profiles. There are so many good examples of terminal improvement projects that we couldn’t wait to bring you profiles from KOA, DEN, DFW and MSP. You’ll find great information about tying together new and existing facilities, adding mezzanines and outdoor decks and innovative modular building practices that saved one airport a significant amount of time and money.

And, for those who might think of us as a “big airport publication,” we have GA-related stories from APA, HSA, PDG and SFF. There’s everything from hangar development and ramp expansions to a new strategy for master planning.

Naturally, we also have coverage on runway improvements, concessions trends and more.

There’s so much important, pertinent news out there about airports. Sorry Rowdy, we just didn’t have room for you.

Meow!

- Paul Bowers