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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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Orlando Melbourne Int’l Deploys New Airfield Radar System

Orlando Melbourne Int’l Deploys New Airfield Radar System
When you think of cities with large high-tech and engineering sectors, you probably think of San Jose, CA. Or Austin, TX. Or maybe even Huntsville, AL. But Melbourne, FL, is a powerhouse of its own, with key facilities for Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, L3, General Dynamics, Thales, Embraer Executive Jets, and the world headquarters of Harris Corp.

McCarran Int’l Adds Walk-In Medical Clinic

McCarran Int’l Adds Walk-In Medical Clinic
McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas offers customers and employees in need of immediate medical attention a welcome respite in Terminal 1. The Code 3 Urgent Care, located before the A/B security checkpoint, is the privately owned and operated facility with three patient rooms, an on-site X-ray machine and laboratory.

Tri-Cities Airport Updates & Expands its Aging Terminal

Tri-Cities Airport Updates & Expands its Aging Terminal
After decades of making periodic small changes, Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in southeast Washington state “ripped off the Band-Aid” and completed a $41.9 million renovation and expansion of its 1968 terminal. “We couldn’t just continue to do a little bit here and there,” says Airport Director Buck Taft, noting that no major improvements had been made since the 1980s. “We didn’t have enough gate space, concessions were in the wrong area because everything was obviously pre-9/11 design. Its useful life was over.”

Casper Int’l Builds New Equipment Storage & Maintenance Facility

Casper Int’l Builds New Equipment Storage & Maintenance Facility
Commercial airports that were originally built as military airfields are often a mixed bag to operate. Costly infrastructure elements such as runways and buildings are already in place, but they weren’t designed to accommodate modern civilian traffic. Casper/Natrona County International Airport (CPR), in central Wyoming, is a prime example. Ever since the U.S. Army turned over its airfield along the North Platte River to Natrona County in 1949, CPR has used several World War II-era buildings to serve an evolving mix of commercial airlines, private aircraft operators and cargo carriers.

Portland Jetport Produces All of its Deicing Fluid In-House

Portland Jetport Produces All of its Deicing Fluid In-House
Airfield maintenance crews at Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine had one less item on their to-do list last fall: They didn’t have to order any aircraft deicing fluid for the upcoming winter. It was a bold change for the Atlantic coast airport, which receives an average of 62 inches of snow annually and is no stranger to blistery nor’easters.

How Erie Int’l Bounced Back After 5 Feet of Christmas Snow

How Erie Int’l Bounced Back After 5 Feet of Christmas Snow
Erie International (ERI) is used to sudden bouts of heavy snow, courtesy of nearby Lake Erie. It’s not unusual for the Pennsylvania airport to get 20 or 30 inches at a time. But even ERI’s seasoned personnel were challenged when a lake-effect storm lingered longer than usual and pounded the airport with more than 5 feet of snow—at Christmas, of all times.

Teamwork is Lynchpin of Snow Removal at Reno Int’l

Teamwork is Lynchpin of Snow Removal at Reno Int’l
As the gateway to world-famous ski slopes, big-name casinos and other popular tourist attractions, Reno International Airport (RNO) is under a lot of pressure to remain open 24/7 throughout the year, regardless of weather. Multiple departments band together to face the challenge head-on, but responsibility for clearing snow and ice off the runways falls on Airfield Maintenance Superintendent J. Scott Harkema and his staff.

Reducing Emissions & Operating Costs Sparks Push for Electric Buses

Reducing Emissions & Operating Costs Sparks Push for Electric Buses
A growing number of U.S. airports are replacing their fossil fuel-burning courtesy buses with electric vehicles, spurred by the promise of smaller carbon footprints and lower operating costs. FAA grants that subsidize emission-free technologies and a smoother, quieter ride for passengers also sweeten the deal.

Smyrna Airport Adds 600-Acre Business Park

Smyrna Airport Adds 600-Acre Business Park
The first axiom of real estate, “location, location, location,” is the secret behind the fast start of the new business park at Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport (MQY) in central Tennessee. The second axiom, “it’s all about relationships,” helps explain how the airport landed its first $100 million investor.

Tucson Int’l Refines Goals & Updates Terminal

Tucson Int’l Refines Goals & Updates Terminal
Prior to the Great Recession in the early 2000s, officials at Tucson International (TUS) were making plans to expand their aging two-concourse terminal to accommodate growing traffic. But as the economy took its toll on the airline industry by way of consolidation, they realized that expansion was no longer necessary at the origination/destination airport.

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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

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Tampa Int’l Kicks Off Master Plan Updates With New Rental Car Center & Automated People Mover

Valentine’s Day was extra sweet for Tampa International Airport (TPA) this year. The growing Florida facility opened two substantial new pieces of infrastructure to the public: a $323 million consolidated rental car center and a $412 million automated people mover. Both projects were designed to reduce curbside congestion at the terminal, improve customer service and pave the way for future passenger growth.

St. Clair Regional Closes Up Shop After 10-Year Struggle

St. Clair Regional Closes Up Shop After 10-Year Struggle
Building and opening a new airport is no easy task—that goes without saying. As it turns out, closing one may not be any easier. Just ask the folks in St. Clair, MO.

Wyoming Airports Band Together to Save Their Commercial Air Service

Wyoming Airports Band Together to Save Their Commercial Air Service
When Devon Brubaker began his job as manager of Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport (RKS) in spring 2015, many residents of the southwest Wyoming community were not even aware the airport offered service to major connecting hubs. Since then, his team has worked with SkyWest Airlines to create more affordable flights, supported by more effective marketing; and Brubaker is proud of the results.

Orlando Melbourne Int’l Deploys New Airfield Radar System

Orlando Melbourne Int’l Deploys New Airfield Radar System
When you think of cities with large high-tech and engineering sectors, you probably think of San Jose, CA. Or Austin, TX. Or maybe even Huntsville, AL. But Melbourne, FL, is a powerhouse of its own, with key facilities for Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, L3, General Dynamics, Thales, Embraer Executive Jets, and the world headquarters of Harris Corp.

McCarran Int’l Adds Walk-In Medical Clinic

McCarran Int’l Adds Walk-In Medical Clinic
McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas offers customers and employees in need of immediate medical attention a welcome respite in Terminal 1. The Code 3 Urgent Care, located before the A/B security checkpoint, is the privately owned and operated facility with three patient rooms, an on-site X-ray machine and laboratory.

Tri-Cities Airport Updates & Expands its Aging Terminal

Tri-Cities Airport Updates & Expands its Aging Terminal
After decades of making periodic small changes, Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in southeast Washington state “ripped off the Band-Aid” and completed a $41.9 million renovation and expansion of its 1968 terminal. “We couldn’t just continue to do a little bit here and there,” says Airport Director Buck Taft, noting that no major improvements had been made since the 1980s. “We didn’t have enough gate space, concessions were in the wrong area because everything was obviously pre-9/11 design. Its useful life was over.”

Casper Int’l Builds New Equipment Storage & Maintenance Facility

Casper Int’l Builds New Equipment Storage & Maintenance Facility
Commercial airports that were originally built as military airfields are often a mixed bag to operate. Costly infrastructure elements such as runways and buildings are already in place, but they weren’t designed to accommodate modern civilian traffic. Casper/Natrona County International Airport (CPR), in central Wyoming, is a prime example. Ever since the U.S. Army turned over its airfield along the North Platte River to Natrona County in 1949, CPR has used several World War II-era buildings to serve an evolving mix of commercial airlines, private aircraft operators and cargo carriers.

Portland Jetport Produces All of its Deicing Fluid In-House

Portland Jetport Produces All of its Deicing Fluid In-House
Airfield maintenance crews at Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine had one less item on their to-do list last fall: They didn’t have to order any aircraft deicing fluid for the upcoming winter. It was a bold change for the Atlantic coast airport, which receives an average of 62 inches of snow annually and is no stranger to blistery nor’easters.

How Erie Int’l Bounced Back After 5 Feet of Christmas Snow

How Erie Int’l Bounced Back After 5 Feet of Christmas Snow
Erie International (ERI) is used to sudden bouts of heavy snow, courtesy of nearby Lake Erie. It’s not unusual for the Pennsylvania airport to get 20 or 30 inches at a time. But even ERI’s seasoned personnel were challenged when a lake-effect storm lingered longer than usual and pounded the airport with more than 5 feet of snow—at Christmas, of all times.

Teamwork is Lynchpin of Snow Removal at Reno Int’l

Teamwork is Lynchpin of Snow Removal at Reno Int’l
As the gateway to world-famous ski slopes, big-name casinos and other popular tourist attractions, Reno International Airport (RNO) is under a lot of pressure to remain open 24/7 throughout the year, regardless of weather. Multiple departments band together to face the challenge head-on, but responsibility for clearing snow and ice off the runways falls on Airfield Maintenance Superintendent J. Scott Harkema and his staff.

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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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