Aviation Daily on Airports

Strange, But True Airport News

Oh - that's where I put that old shell!!  BAA, operator of London Heathrow, recently had to close part of a construction site at the airport's new Terminal 5 after workers found what they suspected to be a leftover World War II shell, according to an article by AP.  The bomb squad was called to remove the shell, which was 15 inches by 3 inches.

Gun? What gun?  My hometown airport -- Baltimore-Washington -- had to shut down two terminals last week after a gun was found in a carry-on bag at security, according to Reuters.  The gun was turned over to the police.  The owner was not found.  You have to wonder what planet people are on, when, after all this time, they try to carry a weapon through security.

Why no, I’ve never been to an airport exorcism.  Ninety Buddhist monks came to the Thailand’s new Suvarnabhumi International Airport to ensure that the facility has good luck after officials reported a series of ghostly sightings and accidents, according to an article in iol.com.  A man claiming to be Poo Ming (Grandfather Ming), the guardian spirit of the land on which the airport was built, insisted that airport officials build a spirit house, common in homes and businesses in Thailand.  The new airport was built on land that had once housed a centuries-old temple and a cemetery.

That demonstration may have just been “plane stupid.”  Local police arrested 24 members of an environmental campaign after they cut through a security gate at Nottingham East Midlands Airport and sat on a taxiway between two cargo holds, according to infoshop news.com.  The group, which called itself Plane Stupid, was claiming that the number of short-haul flights out of the airport were causing climate change.  The stunt, which lasted four hours, caused six flights were delayed.

This is why mother says if you can’t say anything nice, say nothing at all.  Venezuela’s foreign minister, Nicolás Maduro, was held for about an hour at JFK Airport after leaving the U.N.’s General Assembly in New York City last week, according to an article in the New York Times (free,but registration required).  During the General Assembly, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, not a big fan of the United States, had, earlier in the day, delivered a blistering attack against the United States in general and President George W. Bush n particular. Coincidence?  The State Department issued an apology to Maduro.  But UN Ambassador John (Mr. Diplomacy) Bolton couldn’t leave well enough alone.  “There was no 'incident' at the airport - this was Venezuelan street theater," he said. "He did not request the courtesies we would have extended to get him through the airport. He purchased his ticket at a time and in a manner and with funding such that he was asked to go to secondary screening and he objected to that."

Well at least she didn’t throw a phone.  OK this isn’t exactly airport related, but it involves supermodel Naomi Campbell and Qantas, so I couldn’t resist.   Campbell pitched a hissy fit and swore never to fly Qantas again, with a local television news crew in Sydney in full tow, according to the Daily Telegraph.  The supermodel (who has had “people” issues in the past) accused the airline of telling the media she was on a flight from Bangkok to Sydney.  In fact, a passenger informed reporters that Campbell was on the flight and about to come through arrivals.

Oh, there's the end of the runway.   London Luton AIrport was shut down for 2.5 hours last week after a Challenger business jet overshot the runway, according to an article in MK News.  The pilot reported having problems with the aircraft's landing gear.  No one was injured, but the plane had extensive damage.

ACI-NA Annual Conference: Story of the Week – FAA Touts Progress In Airport Capacity Boost

Talk about timing –- I had the chance to interview Kate Lang, the FAA’s acting associate administrator for airports a few weeks ago.  FAA was kind enough to reach out to me to update me on what it had been doing in the way of improving new capacity.  You can see my story – for free – here.

But the highlight was that since 2000, the United States has seen 12 new runways opened at the busiest airports, including at Denver, Cleveland, Miami, Orlando, St. Louis and Atlanta.  This building spree added 20 miles of runway pavement with a capacity to accommodate 1.6 million more annual operations and cut average delays at the 12 airports by five minutes.  The runways cost $5.2 billion to build, with $1.8 billion coming from Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants.

So I’m here in Reno, and the keynote speaker on Sept. 26 was none other than FAA Administrator Marion Blakey.  And what was a key part of her speech?  It was FAA’s progress in opening new runways and progress being made on future airfield projects.  So Aviation Daily/Airports subscribers were probably reading my story even as Blakey was giving her speech.  Continue to watch this space for more news from Reno!!

ACI-NA Annual Conference: The Drum Beats Start Over 2007 FAA Reauthorization

ACI-NA Chairman Steve Grossman opened a press conference here in Reno talking about the all-important FAA reauthorization in 2007 and what members are doing to prepare.

“We are faced with an important reauthorization bill in Congress next year, the most important in a generation,” said Grossman, who is also director of aviation at Oakland International Airport.  “How do you fit all needs in one reauthorization bill that benefits the entire industry?”

Among priorities under FAA reauthorization approved by the ACI-NA board was improving funding opportunities for airports, said Grossman.  This includes protecting Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants for smaller airports; increasing Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) authority for all airports; streamlining the PFC application process and increasing flexibility for eligible projects; and reclassifying airport bonds currently subject to the alternative minimum tax to be fully exempt.

FAA Administrator Marion Blakey also touched on the importance of the FAA reauthorization in 2007 during her keynote address here in Reno.  She noted that although the Bush Administration has not released its proposal for reauthorization, FAA recognizes that increased Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) can help reduce the demand for and burden on the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

ACI-NA, in full preparation mode for the reauthorization battle, has decided to create its own in-house legislative affairs department by hiring a senior staffer and an outside consulting firm to prepare for the reauthorization debate.  The move effectively ends the legislative alliance that ACI-NA has had with AAAE for the past few years. 

The plan is to hire a senior staffer to oversee legislative affairs, along with one or two people, said ACI-NA president Greg Principato.  “We are preparing an RFP for the outside consultant next week, along with a position description for the senior staffer,” he said.  “We hope to have both the senior staffer and the consulting firm in place by the holidays.”

AirTran In Richmond - Is The Love Affair Over?

I read an interesting article in Richmond's Style Weekly magazine on one of my favorite airport topics -- the struggle to keep low-cost carriers in airports as a balance against the legacy airlines.  Richmond International Airport (RIC) seems to have the best of both worlds -- a stable base of six legacy carriers, along with service from AirTran and new service from JetBlue, which started flying to JFK in March.

The article noted that RIC traffic hit an all-time high in 2005, with 2.9 passengers taking a flight.  The airport has also seen fares drop 30% since AirTran's arrival in June 2005.  But the picture for AirTran's future is not so rosy.  I did a story (subscribers only) in the Sept. 7 issue of Aviation Daily -- along with a post on the blog that same day -- on how it's a delicate balancing act for airports like RIC with a mix of LCCs and legacy carriers. 

Richmond's business community has not be shy about encouraging people to fly on AirTran, since the city could be in danger of losing its service.  The article noted that The Greater Richmond Chamber has a new public awareness campaign encouraging local businesses to "use it or lose it" when it comes to AirTran.  Another problem is RIC's relatively close proximity to Norfolk International Airport (ORF), which is blessed with service from Southwest Airlines and six legacy carriers.

RIC has been trying to keep AirTran service.  It gave the airline $1 million in incentives when it started service last year.  Incentives for airline service are just par for the course these days.  The city also worked with the chamber and local businesses to tout AirTran service, and the Times-Dispatch writes articles regularly on the health of the carrier and the need for residents to support the service.

If AirTran does leave RIC, it wouldn't be the first time.  The airline left back in 1999 after it was unable to withstand competition from Delta Air Lines (which just announced it will fly a 183-seat 757 between RIC and its Atlanta hub on two of its 13 daily flights).  That can't be good news for AirTran going forward.

AirTran did not respond for comment in the Style Weekly article, but quoted an official in a Times-Dispatch article in August who said the airline was still committed to the RIC market.  Only time will tell, but if RIC does lose AirTran service, it won't be because it didn't try.

ACI-NA Conference Coverage: TSA Loosens Liquids Ban - Can We Blame Canada?

I'm here in Reno for the ACI-NA annual conference, and I was watching CNN this morning.  I got there just in time to see TSA head Kip Hawley talk about one, allowing liquids and gels purchased in secure areas of airports on planes, and two, allowing us to carry a travel-size liquids into security.  MSNBC's story is here.

Funny - I did a post on Sept. 22 praising Canada for doing the same thing and gently urging TSA to follow Canada's lead.  I'm a fan of the warped TV show "South Park."  The creators did a movie, and there was this hilarious song called "Blame Canada."  The parents of South Park were in an uproar over their children watching the movie of characters Terrance and Philip called "A$$es of Fire" (I mean no offense).  So they blame Canada for not censoring the movie for children.

But I digress.  I'm just glad that some reason has been restored to the process. Richard Marchi of ACI-NA put it best:  "Obviously, there’s been a lot of unhappiness.  They’re right to find a way to ease the burden and maintain a reasonable level of security.”  I plan on chatting with the "liquid" vendors here to get their reaction to the news.

ACI-NA - The Annual Conference Begins

So here I am in Reno, Nev. -- the biggest little city in the world  - for the ACI-NA annual conference.  This year's theme is "Airports at a Crossroads: Time for New Aviation Policies."  Right before the conference, I sat down for an interview with ACI-NA President Greg Principato, during which we talked about industry challenges and accomplishments, airport traffic numbers, who should fund airport inline baggage screening systems and the upcoming FAA reauthorization, among other things.  The full interview can be heard here .

Principato expressed his pride in how members responded to emergency situations, including helping Gulf Coast airports even before Hurricane Katrina hit and how facilities were able to adapt quickly when the security level was raised to orange after the failed London terrorist plot Aug. 10.

Looking ahead, ACI-NA will be preparing for the 2007 FAA reauthorization.  Key for the association is to ensure that airports get the proper funding for projects including runways, inline baggage screening systems and other infrastructure needs.

Watch this space all week as I write about the conference sessions, the latest in airport services from vendors and even quick interviews with airport executives.

STRANGE, BUT TRUE AIRPORT NEWS

Um, I just look really young for my age... A businessman flying from London Luton Airport to Amsterdam on easyJet was able to get through not one, but two security checks using his 2-year-old daughter's passport, according to an article in The Mirror.  Mark Coshever, 29, claimed he picked up the wrong passport and notified airport officials in Amsterdam as soon as he realized his mistake.  easyJet has disiplined the staff involved.

What leopard cats are you talking about?  And no, those aren't monkeys in my pants.  A man was arrested at LAX after sneaking two protected Asian leopard cats through the airport, according to an article at canada.com.  He was also charged with lying for a friend who had snuck two pygmy monkeys in his pants.  Kids, I can't make this stuff up! While Chris Mulloy managed to get the cats past customs, his friend Robert Cusack got nabbed carrying the monkeys in his pants, along with birds of paradise and rare orchids packed in his luggage.

Yes, you too can be a TSA screener.  Thanks to our friend at Upgrade Travel for telling us about an addictive computer game where you -- yes, you -- get to be the airport security screener.  The object of the game is for you to remove prohibited items from luggage, or from passengers' bodies. But here's the twist -- just like in real life, the rules keep changing as items go from being prohibited, to not, and back again. Audio even provides snarky airport announcements. Go here to download the game.

These aren't my bullets.  An Israeli woman was held at India's Mumbai Airport after security found 16 bullets and a magazine in her luggage, according to ndtv.com.  She claims the bullets belonged to her brother, who was licensed to carry a gun.  So how did HIS bullets end up in HER luggage? 

Canada Loosens Liquid Ban - But Only Past Security

The Sept. 22 issue (subscribers only) of Aviation Daily has my story about how Transport Canada has loosened the liquids ban past security.  It means that non-duty-free retailers located past security can now sell their liquid goods to passengers on all flights except to the United States. 

Transport Canada felt it was important to balance the needs of passengers and airport retailers with the government's security needs and saw this as a good compromise.  Good for them.  Now the U.K. has eased its travel restrictions and passengers can again carry larger bags on to planes, according to The Independent.  But the ban on all but essential liquids in hand luggage will continue, and passengers will still be able to carry on only one bag.

However, U.S. airport retailers continue to suffer under the ban of all liquids on flights.  I was in San Antonio visiting the parents last month and I always buy hot sauce from the Hot Sauce lady near Continental's gates.  I knew the ban was in place so I bought on the way out.  I asked her how long she'd be able to keep her liquid goods -- including hot sauce, BBQ sauce and jellies -- on the shelf before either replacing them with non-banned goods or even shutting down altogether.  She said after about two months, she would have to replace the merchandise.  And I don't even want to think what's happening to my favorite Bath & Body Works store in Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

I'm all for security, but I've said it before and I'll say it again -- the terrorists have moved past liquids and are looking for the next weapon.  So I fail to see why passengers, vendors and airport workers should continue to suffer.  There has to be some sort of balance that can be reached, and it looks to me like Transport Canada is doing just that and the U.K. is moving in that direction.

The Latest Spirit Airlines Promotion

OK I know this blog is supposed to be about airports, but sometimes when something so crazy comes across my e-mail, I'd be remiss in not mentioning it.  Sprirt Airlines has been running this bizarre series of ads touting their low fares.  Among the past promotions were "The Hunt for Hoffa" and the the Keyshawn (the Jets/Tampa Bay/Cowboys/Panthers aging running back) sale. Huh?

The president of Spirit happens to be Ben Baldanza, who used to be the marketing VP at US Airways.  You would think he would know better, but no.  Now we have the new "Holla for a Dolla" fare sale press release.  I guess Ben was trying either to channel his inner hip-hop or lure the "urban" crowd to Spirit flights by appealing to how many "Benjamins" it will cost to fly.  And yes, as a black woman, I defend my right to write that without offending anyone.

But they couldn't leave it at that.  The release goes on to tout fares for $1 each way in honor of George Washington.  Spirit will also offer fares in "honor" of Lincoln, Hamilton (our honorary president), Jackson, Grant, and Benjamin (Franklin, I assume, who, last I checked, was never a president).  Seems to me that this is a dubious honor at best.

Our good friend Holly Hegeman of PlaneBusiness.com wrote about the previous Spirit sale, and she was as puzzled as we were.  Lucky her, she actually got Baldanza to explain it here (subscribers only) in her Aug. 3 edition of Plane Business Banter.  She also gave Spirit a BuzzBomb on the July 19 post of her free web site, PlaneBuzz for the Hoffa campaign.

I'm all for trying something new and being creative with a press release, but this one I think just went too far.  There is such a thing as being too cute.

The Registered Traveler Program Gains Some Traction

I did a story in the Sept. 15 issue Aviation Daily (view here for free) on TSA announcing that vendors could start taking advanced registration for the Registered Traveler (RT) program.  Right now, only Orlando International Airport is actually running the program, with partner Verified Identity Pass (see photo, left).  Verified has also signed up San Jose, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and JFK Airport's Terminal 7 in conjunction with British Airways.

Now, it would appear that we're one step closer to seeing RT in operation at other airports.  But I have to admit that I was puzzled by this news for several reasons.  One, it wasn't TSA that put out the announcement -- it was Verified ID.  And when I originally tried to find the information on TSA's Web site, it was buried so deep I actually had to get help to find it.  It has since been updated and is much easier to find.

Two, the statement given to me by TSA in reaction to allowing advanced registration didn't sound like they were really ready to move forward, despite the optimism expressed by Verified ID CEO Steven Brill.  TSA emphasized that "advance registration is not considered enrollment in the RT program."  It also said that while it continues to work on the finalization of the program, the elevated threat level has made it place its emphasis on "mission-critical policies and programs."  I could be wrong, but that doesn't sound like they are in any rush to get the program started.

Last November, TSA announced that it would do a nationwide launch of RT on June 20.  I did a story (subscribers only) in Aviation Daily on April 21 about TSA delaying the rollout, instead deciding to focus on between 10 and 20 airports.  But TSA has not said when it plans to roll out the program.  Outside of those already announced, most airports are either taking a wait-and-see attitude on the program or are rejecting it outright.

Watch this space (and please, read Aviation Daily -- I have a baby to feed) to see if Mr. Brill's prediction that RT lanes at his other announced airports will be up and running by October.