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Ticketing Hall Expansion Adds Much-Needed Space at Reno-Tahoe Int’l
Ticketing Hall Expansion Adds Much-Needed Space at Reno-Tahoe Int’l
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) opened a newly expanded Ticketing Hall in April. The Nevada airport also remodeled and upgraded its existing 35,000-square-foot hall with new public restrooms, ticketing kiosks, wayfinding signage and space for oversized baggage.
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New Rail Service Enhances Multimodal Connectivity at Orlando Int’l
New Rail Service Enhances Multimodal Connectivity at Orlando Int’l
A long-time regional transportation plan became reality when Orlando and Miami were connected with high-speed rail service. The new route provides an attractive new option for airline travelers throughout the state, and Orlando International (MCO) staked its claim as the first U.S.
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Alaska Airlines Installs Self-Service Bag Tag Stations
Alaska Airlines Installs Self-Service Bag Tag Stations
Airports with significant service from Alaska Airlines are now dotted with new self-serve machines for passengers. The Seattle-based carrier recently removed ticketing kiosks and replaced them with stations solely dedicated to printing tags for checked baggage.
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New Engine-Testing Facility Enhances Safety, Functionality and Efficiency at Michigan Airport
New Engine-Testing Facility Enhances Safety, Functionality and Efficiency at Michigan Airport
A new $7 million ground run-up enclosure is boosting safety and operating efficiency at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (OSC), a general aviation airport in northeastern Michigan, along the Lake Huron shoreline.
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Safety Management Systems at Airports
Safety Management Systems at Airports
Following the FAA Safety Organization’s final rule for Part 121 airline operators in 2015, the agency published its final ruling on Safety Management Systems (SMS) for some Part 139 airports in February 2023.
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Atlanta Int’l Combines Modular and Traditional Build Methods for Concourse D Expansion
Atlanta Int’l Combines Modular and Traditional Build Methods for Concourse D Expansion
Serving more than 100 million passengers annually, it’s no secret that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a critical piece of the worldwide aviation network.
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Daytona Beach Int’l Implements State-of-the-Art Security Measures
Daytona Beach Int’l Implements State-of-the-Art Security Measures
Passengers tend to think of airport security as TSA checkpoints and police K9s, but much more goes into keeping the public safe.
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Boise Airport Expands Parking for Growing Local Population
Boise Airport Expands Parking for Growing Local Population
Nicknamed Treasure Valley for its vast natural resources, Boise, ID, is having a moment. The Boise metro area consistently shows up on lists of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S., and Boise Airport (BOI) is making investments to handle the associated traffic increases.
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Sarasota Int’l Gets Creative Introducing Local Students to Aviation
Sarasota Int’l Gets Creative Introducing Local Students to Aviation
It can be tough finding time to build relationships with the greater community.
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Newark-Heath Airport Makes Major Upgrades
Newark-Heath Airport Makes Major Upgrades
Located about 40 miles east of Columbus, OH, Newark-Heath Airport (VTA) is in one of the fastest-growing areas in that state. Currently, the general aviation airfield logs about 13,000 operations a year, but traffic is expected to escalate based on Intel’s plans to invest $20 billion in the area.
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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int’l Builds New Quick-Turn Facility for Rental Car Operations
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Int’l Builds New Quick-Turn Facility for Rental Car Operations
After a long time coming, an updated quick turnaround facility for consolidated rental car operations at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) became fully operational last fall.
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Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The Traveler has been amazing and amusing visitors at Orlando International Airport (MCO) ever since it was installed in 1985.
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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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New Control Tower Sparks Growth at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Opens Pathway for Other Airports With Contract Towers

New Control Tower Sparks Growth at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Opens Pathway for Other Airports With Contract Towers
The recent addition of an upgraded air traffic control tower has given Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) an inside track to welcoming more passengers while supporting a surge in aviation-related commercial development. Last August, AZA activated its John S. McCain III Air Traffic Control Tower, a nearly 200-foot-tall, $30 million addition that immediately improved airfield safety and boosted operational capacity at the expanding reliever airport.

Expansion, Renovations at Orlando Sanford Int’l Eliminate Pain Points, Streamline Operations

Expansion, Renovations at Orlando Sanford Int’l Eliminate Pain Points, Streamline Operations
A comprehensive $60 million makeover at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) has streamlined operations and made travel easier for passengers. Key components included consolidating ticketing and security screening areas, merging two terminals into one, expanding baggage claim facilities and adding entrances to parking facilities to periodically reduce traffic jams outside the terminal.

Nueces County Airport Installs New Fuel Tanks and Dispensing Station

Nueces County Airport Installs New Fuel Tanks and Dispensing Station
Nueces County Airport (RBO), is a small general aviation airport located in Robstown, TX - about 30 miles west of Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico. RBO doesn’t have to deal with snow or ice. However, occasional hurricanes and tropical storms coming off the Gulf do pose a real threat.

Portland Int’l Taps Local, Renewable Resource for Seismically Resilient Wooden Roof

Portland Int’l Taps Local, Renewable Resource for Seismically Resilient Wooden Roof
The new 9-acre structure will help double the square footage inside the terminal and includes 2.5 million board feet of Douglas fir lumber, with curves supported by glulam (glue-laminated) beams. Beams for the roof were manufactured offsite and then assembled on the airfield less than a mile from the main terminal, allowing the building to remain 100% operational throughout the process.

Raleigh-Durham Int’l Opens Industry’s First Multi-Restaurant Ghost Kitchen

Raleigh-Durham Int’l Opens Industry’s First Multi-Restaurant Ghost Kitchen
One of the three locations shuttered at the North Carolina airport was a California Pizza Kitchen in Terminal 2, and customers missed the option when traffic began to resume. Rather than plugging another standard dine-in/carry-out option into the open spot, management at RDU opted to pioneer an entirely new concept for airports: a virtual food hall with multiple concessionaires.

Philadelphia Int’l is Updating - and Monetizing - Its Information Technology Network

Philadelphia Int’l is Updating - and Monetizing - Its Information Technology Network
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has embarked on a comprehensive program to take its information technology (IT) network far into the future. The vision is to create and own a seamless, standardized network that optimizes the passenger experience and provides efficient service for carriers and tenants. If all goes according to plan, the new network will eventually produce additional revenue.

Another End-Around Taxiway Yields Many Benefits at Dallas Fort Worth Int’l

Another End-Around Taxiway Yields Many Benefits at Dallas Fort Worth Int’l
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) completed its Northeast End-Around Taxiway Project in May, making it the only U.S. airport with an end-around taxiway at both ends of a runway. The recently completed project was the last component of DFW’s three-phase Northeast End-around Taxiway Program, which started in 2018 and cost a total of $46 million.

Bradley Int’l Builds New Ground Transportation Center

Bradley Int’l Builds New Ground Transportation Center
This summer, Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks, CT, opened a new rental car facility and ground transportation center that spans 13.4 acres and includes 1.5 million square feet of space in three buildings: a five-story ready/return garage, a five-story quick turnaround facility and a four-story vertical circulation building. The entire facility is connected to the terminal by an elevated, covered pedestrian bridge and features the airport’s three-letter identifier, BDL, in bright lights.

Louisville Int’l Installs Geothermal System to Substantially Reduce Energy Costs, Carbon Footprint

Louisville Int’l Installs Geothermal System to Substantially Reduce Energy Costs, Carbon Footprint
A $21.7 million geothermal heating and cooling system currently being installed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is the first of its magnitude at a U.S. airport. The project is designed to reduce the Kentucky airport’s energy costs for natural gas and electricity by roughly $400,000 annually. It also should reduce SDF’s carbon footprint by about 80%.

Long Beach Airport Adds Permanent Checked Baggage Inspection System and Improves Ticketing Building

Long Beach Airport Adds Permanent Checked Baggage Inspection System and Improves Ticketing Building
After five years as deputy executive director for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Cynthia Guidry took over as director of Long Beach Airport (LGB) in 2019. When she arrived, the Southern California airport was in the midst of a major renovation that began with the planning process in 2017. The ongoing $110 million overhaul spans six key areas...

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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.

 

 

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Long Beach Airport Adds Permanent Checked Baggage Inspection System and Improves Ticketing Building

Long Beach Airport Adds Permanent Checked Baggage Inspection System and Improves Ticketing Building
After five years as deputy executive director for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Cynthia Guidry took over as director of Long Beach Airport (LGB) in 2019. When she arrived, the Southern California airport was in the midst of a major renovation that began with the planning process in 2017. The ongoing $110 million overhaul spans six key areas...

New Hydrant System Will Boost Fueling Efficiency and Safety at LaGuardia Terminal B

New Hydrant System Will Boost Fueling Efficiency and Safety at LaGuardia Terminal B
Prior to a $4 billion facelift recently completed by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) was known for taxiway traffic jams and delays. The terminal’s new island concourse layout has helped alleviate many of those issues. Further enhancing those efficiencies is a new hydrant fueling system that will allow aircraft to fuel at each of the terminal’s 35 gates and eliminate the need for tank truck refueling and its associated traffic.

'Open-Airport Surgery' Raises the Roof at Fort Lauderdale Int’l

'Open-Airport Surgery’ Raises the Roof at Fort Lauderdale Int’l
In September, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) completed a $153 million modernization program in Terminal 2 to catch up with years of significant growth in passenger traffic. Recent changes at the South Florida airport increase the main building’s capacity by 33,000 square feet, including a 45-foot vertical expansion in new airside court.

Van Nuys Runway Project Requires Precise Scheduling

Van Nuys Runway Project Requires Precise Scheduling
When it becomes necessary to shut down one of your two main runways for reconstruction, careful planning is critical. The stakes are even higher when you manage one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States. That was the challenge Justin Erbacci, chief executive officer of Los Angeles World Airports, faced earlier this year regarding Van Nuys Airport (VNY).

Phoenix Sky Harbor Pioneers Field Assessment of TSA Mobile ID

Phoenix Sky Harbor Pioneers Field Assessment of TSA Mobile ID
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is balancing these challenging factors by implementing Mobile ID, a program that allows Arizona residents with TSA Pre- PreCheck® status to load their state-issued identification information onto their mobile phone or through Apple Wallet for use at TSA checkpoints. It’s all part of a TSA field assessment pilot program, and PHX led the way when it became the first U.S. airport to adopt Mobile ID in March 2022.

Rogue Valley Int’l Implements New Stormwater System

Rogue Valley Int’l Implements New Stormwater System
This summer, Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport (MFR) in southwestern Oregon completed the installation of an innovative stormwater detention and drainage solution that mimics nature to wick and clean rainwater before returning it to the ground and nearby waterways.

Look Closely at the Petals - San Antonio International Airport (SAT)

Look Closely at the Petals - San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Student artists fashioned the bras and ties into an optimistic flower sculpture.

New Airside Layout Completes $4 Billion Terminal Overhaul at LaGuardia

New Airside Layout Completes $4 Billion Terminal Overhaul at LaGuardia
Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) was built in the 1960s when both aircraft and air passenger numbers were much smaller. As the airport entered its sixth decade with passenger counts surging to 15 million and aircraft reaching record size, one of its biggest challenges was space constraints for aircraft taxiing to and from the gates.

Jackson Hole Airport Reconstructs Runway During 78-Day Closure

Jackson Hole Airport Reconstructs Runway During 78-Day Closure
Sooner or later, most single-runway airports have to bite the bullet and shut down to rehab their airstrip. For Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), that time came this spring. When the Wyoming airfield reopened in late June, it had a reconstructed runway designed to last for many decades and improvements in and around the terminal, to boot.

Hybrid Fire Station at San José Int’l Provides Emergency Services for Airport and Surrounding Area

Hybrid Fire Station at San José Int’l Provides Emergency Services for Airport and Surrounding Area
After nearly 60 years with the same fire station, Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) needed new facilities for its aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) operations.

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Publisher's Blog

Let’s Be Clear
With more passengers being screened by TSA than ever before, checkpoint wait times are increasing accordingly.
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Industry Insider

A Bittersweet Goodbye
I look forward to July 1, 2024, with a profound sense of achievement.
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Project Nominations

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Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Time for a Touch Up - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The Traveler has been amazing and amusing visitors at Orlando International Airport (MCO) ever since it was installed...
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