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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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Harry Reid Int’l Tests Self-Service Checkpoint
Harry Reid Int’l Tests Self-Service Checkpoint
For 23 years, TSA has screened passengers and their belongings at U.S. airports to help keep air travel safe. The traffic is staggering, with an average 2.5 million people passing through checkpoints at more than 430 airports each day, and even more during holidays and other surges.
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Safety Management Systems: Lessons from the Airline Sector
Safety Management Systems: Lessons from the Airline Sector
Nearly a decade ago, the FAA Safety Organization issued a final rule requiring Part 121 certificated operators—scheduled commercial airlines—to implement Safety Management Plans. The goal was to help carriers detect and correct safety risks before they become hazards.
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Historic Wildfires Prompt Kelowna Int’l to Move Commercial Flights From Day to Night
Historic Wildfires Prompt Kelowna Int’l to Move Commercial Flights From Day to Night
With wildfires raging throughout British Columbia last summer, two things kept Kelowna International Airport (YLW) ahead of the game: good working relationships with the provincial and national governments, and partners such as Nav Canada.
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Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Completes Five-Gate Addition
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Completes Five-Gate Addition
With an eye on growth and a heightened commitment to passenger comfort, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) unveiled a 30,000-square-foot terminal expansion in mid-February.
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New ARFF Facility Boosts Efficiency, Paves Way for New Terminal at Monterey Regional
New ARFF Facility Boosts Efficiency, Paves Way for New Terminal at Monterey Regional
A new $9.9 million aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) station is enhancing operational efficiency at Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), as well as providing a more comfortable environment for the personnel that call it home for days at a time.
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Punta Gorda Closes Runway, Powers Through Rebuild Project
Punta Gorda Closes Runway, Powers Through Rebuild Project
File it under “good things come to those who wait.” The roughly year-long reconstruction and rehabilitation of the primary runway at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) was a welcome improvement that took patience, planning and lots of enabling projects.
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Moving Walkways Replace Decades-Old Monorail at Tampa Int’l
Moving Walkways Replace Decades-Old Monorail at Tampa Int’l
Guests at Tampa International Airport (TPA) can now use a series of moving walkways to quickly travel through the long-term parking garage to the adjacent main terminal, and vice versa.
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New Outdoor Deck Relieves Passenger Congestion at Charlottetown Airport
New Outdoor Deck Relieves Passenger Congestion at Charlottetown Airport
While some airports have struggled to recover passenger traffic lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, the opposite is true at Charlottetown Airport (YYG) on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada. In 2023, the airport recorded 402,686 passengers—an increase of more than 18% from 2022.
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Southwest Hangar Complex at Gulf Shores Int’l is Full
Southwest Hangar Complex at Gulf Shores Int’l is Full
If Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA) were a hotel, management could hang up a “No Vacancy” sign regarding its available hangar space. Airport Director Justin Fletcher proudly reports that all 13 sites of JKA’s Southwest Corporate Hangar Complex are filled.
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Hawaii Provides State-Owned Airports with Online Platform for Environmental Systems Management
Hawaii Provides State-Owned Airports with Online Platform for Environmental Systems Management
Recognizing the need for robust environmental systems management, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division provides a cloud-based, no-code system for its 15 state-owned and state-operated airports.
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Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is celebrating that longtime binational bond with a temporary art exhibit titled Espacios & Lines.
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Terminal Modernization at Boston Logan Has Passengers and Locals Seeing Red, But in a Good Way
Terminal Modernization at Boston Logan Has Passengers and Locals Seeing Red, But in a Good Way
Nearly 250 years after Paul Revere rode out of Boston warning of a pending advance by British Redcoats, a shimmering red coat of paint warmly welcomes international visitors to the modern airport in his colonial hometown.
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New Connector Facility Improves Access & Convenience at Los Angeles Int’l

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Most terminal connectors are simple structures—enclosed hallways without much additional utility or aesthetic flourish. The five-level connector that opened at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2016 is an entirely different story. The new, modern facility that joins Terminal 4 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal includes a checked baggage inspection system, an interline baggage transfer facility, its own TSA passenger checkpoint and a public plaza with outdoor seating.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Leverages Technology & Advisory Panel to Expand Universal Access Far Beyond Legal Requirements

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Leverages Technology & Advisory Panel to Expand Universal Access Far Beyond Legal Requirements
Video-relay sign language interpreting for travelers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Camera-equipped glasses that facilitate real-time navigational cues for visually impaired passengers. Flow-through elevators and restrooms specifically designed for wheelchairs. Improved pictogram signage to communicate crucial wayfinding directions without written language.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Adds Food Truck Alley

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Adds Food Truck Alley.
No matter how cold and blustery it gets this winter, passengers and employees at Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP) will still be able to enjoy the wildly popular food truck trend that is sweeping the nation. This summer, the Twin Cities airport transformed a traditional food court in its Lindbergh Terminal into an indoor urban alleyway, complete with faux brick walls, decorative outdoor lighting and four full-size food trucks.

San Luis Obispo Regional Celebrates New Terminal

San Luis Obispo Regional Celebrates New Terminal
After nearly two decades of preparatory projects and two radically different terminal designs, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) will finally get to cut the ribbon on its new $39.5 million terminal this November. At 56,000 square feet, the terminal is nearly five times larger than the airport's old facility. Passenger amenities include the airport's first airside concessions, a larger holdroom, free WiFi throughout the terminal, and 17 self-service check-in kiosks.

New Vehicle & Station Expansion Boost Emergency Response at Juneau Int'l

Vehicle and Station Expansion, Boost Emergency Response, Juneau Int'l
Traffic is changing at Juneau International (JNU), and so is the airport's emergency response program. As the airfield begins to receive an increasing number of larger-capacity aircraft, officials are enhancing its aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) capabilities accordingly. Last year, the Alaska airport purchased a $750,000 state-of-the-art ARFF vehicle that is so tall and wide, JNU needed a larger station to house it. The recent $2.6 million renovation project also brought its facility up to FAA specifications and added more room for gear and support functions.

Ideas Build Success at Medford Airport

Ideas Build Success at Medford Airport
Thinking "outside the box" is uncomfortable and difficult for many adults. For Bern Case, AAE, it seems to be second nature. For example, there's a retired KC-97 Stratotanker parked permanently outside the airport fence that serves as a rental facility for parties and other special occasions. In the past year alone, it has been the site of more than 200 events. Then there's the replica of the White House Oval Office, created in a spare room inside the terminal. It's also popular for weddings and other celebrations.

New Parking Structure at Asheville Regional Showcases Local Landscape

New Parking Structure at Asheville Regional Showcases Local Landscape
As North Carolina continues to grow as a popular tourist destination, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), in the western part of the state, is working to keep pace with the associated influx of passengers. The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority recently addressed record demand for parking by constructing a five-level structure that will not only increase capacity but also represent some of the region's landscape on its exterior facade.

Public-Private Partnership Delivers New Terminal at Iqaluit Int'l

Public-Private Partnership Delivers New Terminal at Iqaluit Int'l
Like other airports in Canada's northernmost territory, Iqaluit International Airport (YFB) on Nunavut's Baffin Island plays a vital role connecting the region to the rest of the world. The airport's new 9,800-square-meter terminal, which opened in August, will also keep far-flung residents connected to one another, as it includes a central gathering space that will be used for local meetings and civic events as well as arrivals and departures.

Pittsburgh Int'l Opens Airside Areas To Non-Ticketed Visitors

Pittsburgh Int'l Opens Airside Areas To Non-Ticketed Visitors
Remember the good ol' days, when passengers reunited and parted ways with family and friends right at their gates? After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, hugs, kisses and welcome signs were relegated to curbside drop-offs, baggage claim areas and designated meet-and-greet spots. Until recently, that is.

FAA Conducts Airfield Safety Research at Cape May Airport

FAA Conducts Airfield Safety Research at Cape May Airport
When it comes to partners for airfield projects, the recent match between Cape May Airport (WWD) and the FAA seems straight out of an eHarmony commercial. FAA needed somewhere to conduct field research about airfield pavement and lighting, and the New Jersey airport had a decommissioned taxiway waiting for a new purpose.

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FREE Whitepaper

Fairbanks International Airport Baggage Transport Conveyor Enhanced With Mod Drive™ System


Fairbanks International Airport Baggage Transport Conveyor Enhanced With Mod Drive™ System

Airports face a host of unique industry challenges, such as meeting efficiency regulations and seeking out the best maintenance practices to reduce costs and keep operations flowing. In today’s current economic climate, any potential cost savings can go a long way. 

In 2019, Alaska’s Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) sought to modernize its equipment and operations. They were dissatisfied with the performance of the gearmotors on their baggage transport conveyors and began searching for new suppliers. Regal approached FAI with a solution that could improve equipment performance and simplify maintenance, with the added benefit of energy cost savings: the Hub City® MOD Drive™ system.

This white paper discusses the hardware deployed, the test results and the annualized expectations for ROI.

 

Featured Video

O’Hare Int’l Continues to Expand Cargo Capacity With New Landside Warehouse

O’Hare Int’l Continues to Expand Cargo Capacity With New Landside Warehouse
Wander through the new Northeast Cargo Facility at Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD), and you never know what you’ll see. It could be a multimillion-dollar racehorse, a 1950s Ferrari restored to impeccable condition, or something so unique it’s hard to tell exactly what it is.

Baltimore/Washington Int’l Boosts Morale With Onsite Gym, Healthy Food Options & More

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
For more than 20 years, travelers, airport employees and the general public have enjoyed the 12.5-mile Hiker-Biker Trail that loops around the outside of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). It even includes bike rentals for just $13 per day and passes through a park with a playground.

Clinton Nat’l Focuses on Passenger Comfort in Latest Round of Terminal Improvements

Bill & Hillary Clinton Airport–Little Rock, AR
Ronald Mathieu believes in three things regarding infrastructure projects: listening to customers, doing it right the first time and preparing for the future. As executive director of Bill and Hillary Clinton National (LIT), Mathieu stayed true to each of those core principals while overseeing $25 million of recent enhancements throughout the concourse of the Little Rock, AR, airport.

New Connector Facility Improves Access & Convenience at Los Angeles Int’l

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Most terminal connectors are simple structures—enclosed hallways without much additional utility or aesthetic flourish. The five-level connector that opened at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2016 is an entirely different story. The new, modern facility that joins Terminal 4 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal includes a checked baggage inspection system, an interline baggage transfer facility, its own TSA passenger checkpoint and a public plaza with outdoor seating.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Leverages Technology & Advisory Panel to Expand Universal Access Far Beyond Legal Requirements

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Leverages Technology & Advisory Panel to Expand Universal Access Far Beyond Legal Requirements
Video-relay sign language interpreting for travelers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Camera-equipped glasses that facilitate real-time navigational cues for visually impaired passengers. Flow-through elevators and restrooms specifically designed for wheelchairs. Improved pictogram signage to communicate crucial wayfinding directions without written language.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Adds Food Truck Alley

Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Adds Food Truck Alley.
No matter how cold and blustery it gets this winter, passengers and employees at Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP) will still be able to enjoy the wildly popular food truck trend that is sweeping the nation. This summer, the Twin Cities airport transformed a traditional food court in its Lindbergh Terminal into an indoor urban alleyway, complete with faux brick walls, decorative outdoor lighting and four full-size food trucks.

San Luis Obispo Regional Celebrates New Terminal

San Luis Obispo Regional Celebrates New Terminal
After nearly two decades of preparatory projects and two radically different terminal designs, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) will finally get to cut the ribbon on its new $39.5 million terminal this November. At 56,000 square feet, the terminal is nearly five times larger than the airport's old facility. Passenger amenities include the airport's first airside concessions, a larger holdroom, free WiFi throughout the terminal, and 17 self-service check-in kiosks.

New Vehicle & Station Expansion Boost Emergency Response at Juneau Int'l

Vehicle and Station Expansion, Boost Emergency Response, Juneau Int'l
Traffic is changing at Juneau International (JNU), and so is the airport's emergency response program. As the airfield begins to receive an increasing number of larger-capacity aircraft, officials are enhancing its aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) capabilities accordingly. Last year, the Alaska airport purchased a $750,000 state-of-the-art ARFF vehicle that is so tall and wide, JNU needed a larger station to house it. The recent $2.6 million renovation project also brought its facility up to FAA specifications and added more room for gear and support functions.

Ideas Build Success at Medford Airport

Ideas Build Success at Medford Airport
Thinking "outside the box" is uncomfortable and difficult for many adults. For Bern Case, AAE, it seems to be second nature. For example, there's a retired KC-97 Stratotanker parked permanently outside the airport fence that serves as a rental facility for parties and other special occasions. In the past year alone, it has been the site of more than 200 events. Then there's the replica of the White House Oval Office, created in a spare room inside the terminal. It's also popular for weddings and other celebrations.

New Parking Structure at Asheville Regional Showcases Local Landscape

New Parking Structure at Asheville Regional Showcases Local Landscape
As North Carolina continues to grow as a popular tourist destination, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), in the western part of the state, is working to keep pace with the associated influx of passengers. The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority recently addressed record demand for parking by constructing a five-level structure that will not only increase capacity but also represent some of the region's landscape on its exterior facade.

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Publisher's Blog

What’s in a Name?
I’m all for improving our airports. But do new names necessarily make them better?
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Industry Insider

Cyberattacks on the Aviation Sector: Threats, Trends and Strategies
The aviation industry has been a prime target for nefarious cyberattacks over the last few years.
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Project Nominations

Know of a project that should be covered in a future issue of Airport Improvement?

Artscapes

Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Art Without Borders - San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is celebrating that longtime binational bond with a temporary art exhibit titled...
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