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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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FAA Airport Development Program Turns 75

FAA Airport Development Program Turns 75
This May marks 75 years of the federal government providing grants-in-aid programs to build and enhance U.S. airport infrastructure; and the FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) is in its 40th year. What we now know as AIP began in 1946 as the Federal-Aid Airport Program.

New Concourse at Reagan National Adds 14 Gates for American Airlines

New Concourse at Reagan National Adds 14 Gates for American Airlines
In April, the Washington, D.C., airport unveiled its new 14-gate concourse, a 230,000-square-foot facility built to replace its remote and cramped Gate 35X. Until recently, about 6,000 American Airline passengers rode airside buses every day to Gate 35X, where they boarded regional jets parked at 14 hardstand gates. The arrangement was the airport’s way of continuing vital service while demand stretched beyond its contiguous facilities.

Skyxe Saskatoon Expands Use of Common-Use Systems

Skyxe Saskatoon Expands Use of Common-Use Systems
Stephen Maybury, president and chief executive officer of Skyxe Saskatoon Airport (YXE), aptly proclaimed 2020 a year of “resilience and fortitude.” At the low point in April, passenger volume at YXE was off fully 98%, and it remained down 69% through year-end.

Airports, Customers & Concessionaires Embrace Contactless Ordering

Airports, Customers & Concessionaires Embrace Contactless Ordering
Well before the coronavirus pandemic intensified demand for contactless transactions, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) embarked on a quest to enhance the travel experience at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by creating a seamless digital experience from curb to gate.

New Parking Ramp Prepares Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l for Post-Pandemic Rebound

New Parking Ramp Prepares Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l for Post-Pandemic Rebound
Last August, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) completed construction of an 11-story parking ramp and transit facility at Terminal 1. When the $443 million project broke ground three years earlier, MSP was in the midst of a 10-year growth trend that peaked with a record 39.5 million passengers in 2019. But by the time the project was finished, the airport was only serving about 25% of its normal volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philadelphia Int’l Finishes Airfield Rehab Months Early Despite Multiple Challenges

Philadelphia Int’l Finishes Airfield Rehab Months Early Despite Multiple Challenges
The multi-year $25 million East Airfield Rehabilitation at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was completed 71 days early—and that was after having to shut down due to COVID-19. ​With construction progressing so fast and money still in the budget, PHL even managed to take advantage of reduced airfield traffic from the pandemic to add extra taxiway overlays to the project scope.

Colorado Springs Airport Reaps Rewards of Digital Work Orders, Asset Management

Colorado Springs Airport Reaps Rewards of Digital Work Orders, Asset Management
To-do lists at Colorado Springs Airport (COS) are no longer paperwork manila files, sticky notes or even email threads. Instead, maintenance tasks and work orders are managed in a sophisticated software program that tracks all aspects of general operations, from airfield and landside to terminal/facilities and information technology.

Akron-Canton Airport Updates Gates to Prepare for Growth

Akron-Canton Airport Updates Gates to Prepare for Growth
When Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) completed a $37 million gate modernization and concourse expansion last fall, the northeast Ohio airport also celebrated the culmination of its 10-year, $115 million capital improvement program. Together, the projects update the 1960s terminal, allow it to accommodate all current aircraft and right size the facility for future growth.

Investments at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Pay Quick Dividends

Investments at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Pay Quick Dividends
A renaissance is underway at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport (RWI) in Elm City, NC. And master plan improvements are propelling it forward. Airport Director Dion Viventi reports that several infrastructure projects executed in 2019 and 2020 are already boosting RWI’s bottom line.

Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l Builds Bigger, Better ARFF Station

Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l Builds Bigger, Better ARFF Station
Firefighters at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) are thrilled with the new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) station they moved into last November. At 24,000 square feet, the facility is triple the size of the previous station, and also includes updated features and comforts for crews and equipment.

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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.

 

 

Featured Video

Philadelphia Int’l Finishes Airfield Rehab Months Early Despite Multiple Challenges

Philadelphia Int’l Finishes Airfield Rehab Months Early Despite Multiple Challenges
The multi-year $25 million East Airfield Rehabilitation at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was completed 71 days early—and that was after having to shut down due to COVID-19. ​With construction progressing so fast and money still in the budget, PHL even managed to take advantage of reduced airfield traffic from the pandemic to add extra taxiway overlays to the project scope.

Colorado Springs Airport Reaps Rewards of Digital Work Orders, Asset Management

Colorado Springs Airport Reaps Rewards of Digital Work Orders, Asset Management
To-do lists at Colorado Springs Airport (COS) are no longer paperwork manila files, sticky notes or even email threads. Instead, maintenance tasks and work orders are managed in a sophisticated software program that tracks all aspects of general operations, from airfield and landside to terminal/facilities and information technology.

Akron-Canton Airport Updates Gates to Prepare for Growth

Akron-Canton Airport Updates Gates to Prepare for Growth
When Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) completed a $37 million gate modernization and concourse expansion last fall, the northeast Ohio airport also celebrated the culmination of its 10-year, $115 million capital improvement program. Together, the projects update the 1960s terminal, allow it to accommodate all current aircraft and right size the facility for future growth.

Investments at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Pay Quick Dividends

Investments at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Pay Quick Dividends
A renaissance is underway at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport (RWI) in Elm City, NC. And master plan improvements are propelling it forward. Airport Director Dion Viventi reports that several infrastructure projects executed in 2019 and 2020 are already boosting RWI’s bottom line.

Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l Builds Bigger, Better ARFF Station

Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l Builds Bigger, Better ARFF Station
Firefighters at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) are thrilled with the new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) station they moved into last November. At 24,000 square feet, the facility is triple the size of the previous station, and also includes updated features and comforts for crews and equipment.

Asset Tracking Software at McCarran Int’l Boosts Efficiency, Documents FAA Compliance

Asset Tracking Software at McCarran Int’l Boosts Efficiency, Documents FAA Compliance
Maintenance personnel at McCarran International Airport (LAS) no longer put pen to paper when they log maintenance performed on runway lights. Instead, a digital asset management system uses GPS technology to track the work performed and pushes the information to a cloud-based platform to enhance the accuracy of maintenance records.

McCarran & Oakland Int’l Complete Pilot Tests of New Fuel Farm Management Platform

McCarran & Oakland Int’l Complete Pilot Tests of New Fuel Farm Management Platform
Fuel storage facilities at McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas and California’s Oakland International Airport (OAK) are using a new cloud-based asset management system to overcome obstacles that plague the entire industry—problems such as a lack of timely, accurate information and multiple software programs that don’t speak to each other.

Airports Use Digital Platform to Manage Gate Utilization, Aircraft Parking

Airports Use Digital Platform to Manage Gate Utilization, Aircraft Parking
​Until recently, the common-use gates at Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) were a bit like Wichita’s version of the Wild West. The system worked fine when gates were, in fact, open. But when two different airlines wanted to use the same gate, there was no clear way of deciding which had priority.

High Seas, High Stakes: Coastal Airports Respond to Climate Change

High Seas, High Stakes: Coastal Airports Respond to Climate Change
As U.S. airports prepare to turn the corner on the pandemic and the harsh winter of 2020-2021, some still face a significant long-term challenge: the rise in sea levels resulting from climate change. Although the biggest risk is to airports located along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, experts predict secondary effects for inland airports as well.

The Beat Goes On

The Beat Goes On
SEA debuted a 12-by-7-foot digital music wall that runs a loop of performances by local musicians.

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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?

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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...
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