Matt Falcus

Matt Falcus is a British aviation writer and author, and editor of the Airport Spotting Blog, which delivers daily news on airline and airport operations around the world.

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Articles by Matt Falcus

• Washington Reagan National’s perimeter rule to stay

  Tuesday, December 08, 2020

  Washington Reagan National (DCA) is one of three airports serving the Washington, D.C., area. Its location close to the downtown area, the Potomac River and government buildings such as the White House and United States Capitol give it a unique and somewhat restricted operation. Always popular with business, leisure and government travelers, owing to its central location, DCA is heavily slot-controlled by the FAA, limiting the number of daily movements. Airlines must also use their slots at least 80% of the time or risk losing them. It is also restricted, since 1966, by a rule limiting the distance over which flights can operate.

• What is the future of airports under President Biden?

  Tuesday, November 24, 2020

  As the nation prepares for President-elect Joe Biden, many aviation analysts are turning their attention to what the future holds for their industry under his tenure. Whereas in the past this may be a noteworthy point in a wide-ranging manifesto of pledges and promises, in this global crisis surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, people are watching eagerly to discover how Biden will respond to the extra problems surrounding the huge losses of income and jobs being faced by the aviation industry. And this is just one of many areas reaching a critical point as the economy struggles with the virus.

• A new era for Berlin as Brandenburg Airport finally opens

  Friday, November 06, 2020

  A mere nine years late and approximately $3.8 billion over budget, Berlin’s new Brandenburg Airport (BER) finally opened on Oct. 31. A muted ceremony, at what is arguably the worst time to open a new airport aimed at handling more flights and passengers than ever before, allowed Germany to at least save face and put the huge debacle of this construction project behind it. Originally planned to open in 2011, the flagship airport project has been plagued by problematic safety measures, insufficient retail space, and fraud as many reasons for delay stacked up.

• Groundbreaking takes place on Tucson International Airport’s biggest project to date

  Tuesday, October 27, 2020

  Tucson International Airport is about to enter a new phase as it begins development of a major infrastructure upgrade that will improve facilities for operators, bringing the airfield in line with the latest FAA safety standards. Ground was broken on the new project — the largest in the airport’s 72-year history — on October 15 by representatives from across Southern Arizona and the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA). The present airport layout dates from the 1960s and is in need of modernization. The new works will center around a new runway parallel to the current main strip.

• How COVID-19 has affected world airport rankings

  Tuesday, October 13, 2020

  A new report has shed light on the effect COVID-19 has had on the world’s busiest airports, outlining the drop in passenger figures handled so far in 2020. It also sheds light on the enormous job airports have on their hands in rebuilding their former stature, and how we may see a permanent shift in global airport rankings. The World Airport Traffic Report by Airports Council International (ACI) lists the top 10 busiest airports in the world in 2019. To highlight the changes being experienced this year, its summary also lists the percentage difference in passenger numbers seen in the first half of 2020.

• A new era for Salt Lake City International Airport

  Tuesday, September 29, 2020

  Salt Lake City (SLC) International Airport has entered a new era with the opening of its new airport terminal, replacing aging older structures that had become increasingly unable to cope with demand and today's expectations. But is this the worst possible time to open a new airport terminal and expand capacity? Overnight on Sept. 15, the existing terminals 1 and 2, plus the International Terminal and associated parking garages at SLC closed, replaced by the new central terminal and initial Concourse A-West, which opened at the same time.

• Heathrow’s airlines must pay for failed expansion plans

  Tuesday, September 15, 2020

  A clash has recently developed between British Airways owners IAG and London Heathrow Airport after it was revealed that the airport can pass on the bill for the money it spent on its failed third runway proposal to its airlines. Plans to expand Heathrow with a third runway have been in the works since the 1970s, but in recent years a major push to gain approval was undertaken; so much so that early preparation and investigation works, not to mention the planning and legal work behind the bid, amounted to $650 million.

• The touchless future of our airports

  Monday, August 31, 2020

  One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us is a step up in technology, particularly in areas that affect our travel and interaction with the world. Now it seems the technology to allow the process of transiting an airport from door to gate could become as close to "touchless" as possible thanks to innovations in technology being fast-tracked by different companies.

• London City Airport reevaluates its future

  Wednesday, August 19, 2020

  London City Airport, in the heart of the U.K. capital, has put its part-completed development plans on hold until "demand returns" following a difficult time for the aviation industry and airports. In its City Airport Development Plan (CADP) update, issued on Aug. 13, it was announced that a decision has been made to temporarily pause the long-term project at the end of this year once current works have been completed.

• LaGuardia shakes its reputation with new development

  Tuesday, August 04, 2020

  LaGuardia Airport has continued work on its large-scale redevelopment despite the ongoing disruption to travel, with a summer of works culminating in the opening of Terminal B's new concourse. It follows the opening of this terminal's redeveloped Arrivals and Departures hall at the terminal in June. The major redevelopment of the airport started in 2016 with plans to replace the cramped terminals and low ceilings.

• A look at how TSA has suffered during the coronavirus pandemic and its response

  Tuesday, July 21, 2020

  As airport security remains a priority for travel, alarming numbers of agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been exposed to COVID-19, with some losing their life, exacerbated by a lack of protective equipment. Airports across the United States have recently seen a return to growth across many areas despite spikes in cases, so what is being done to prevent these key workers from infection?

• Future vision for security mapped out by Airports Council International

  Tuesday, July 07, 2020

  Airports Council International (ACI) recently unveiled its vision for airport security over the next two decades, which sets to map out how this important aspect of travel will adapt both in a post-COVID-19 era and as new technology becomes available. Published on June 30, Smart Security Vision 2040 "sets the foundation for achieving a seamless airport security screening experience in a post-COVID-19 operational reality."

• Singapore Changi puts construction plans on hold as it studies aviation’s future

  Tuesday, June 23, 2020

  Plans for the construction of a new terminal at Singapore Changi Airport have been put on hold as the airport sets aside time to study the future of aviation and whether the future of aviation will justify the work. The new Terminal 5 at Changi had been planned for an area to the east of the existing terminals and would be the biggest at the airport with capacity for 50 million passengers per year. With an anticipated opening in the early 2030s, Changi Airport Group had expected to be going to tender soon, ready for work to commence on the important structure.

• Airports face significant drop in revenues through the end of 2020

  Monday, June 08, 2020

  Even with bailouts and airlines easing out of lockdown, airports across the globe are facing a significant drop in revenues, which could challenge their futures and put on hold any ambitious growth or redevelopment plans until profits return. As the dust settles to some degree and airlines start increasing schedules this month, airports and analysts are beginning to assess the damage that has been caused through months of the coronavirus lockdown.

• Airport concessions in crisis as coronavirus takes toll on air travel

  Tuesday, May 26, 2020

  Victims of the coronavirus outbreak and its effect on air travel include the thousands of airport concessions across the country, and indeed the world, that have been forced to endure closure and laying off employees or, if still open, next to minimal sales. Now, with airports and airlines receiving funds to help them through these difficult times, airport concessions are also calling on the government to recognize their plight and provide relief before many are forced out of business.

• Fledgling screening trials could pave the way for new standard procedures at airports

  Tuesday, May 12, 2020

  The U.K.'s Heathrow Airport is trialing new measures for screening passengers as the aviation industry looks for a way to emerge from the current crisis. With no definitive end to the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the measures taken could become the new norm for travel by air. First to be implemented at Heathrow is facial recognition thermal screening technology, which monitors passengers moving through Terminal 2's immigration halls. This will then be scaled up to other areas such as departure areas and security screening, followed by other terminals.

• Airports are using the COVID-19 lockdown to undertake essential works

  Tuesday, April 28, 2020

  One of the most difficult projects for busy airports to manage is refurbishing or rehabilitating infrastructure such as a runway when it is still required for aircraft use. Yet, with the global lockdown, airports are finding an opportunity to undertake these works with little disruption to operations. Press releases and local news reports from across the world tell of the work airports are undertaking to improve and repair runways and taxiways. In many cases, planned works have been brought forward to take advantage of the current situation and lack of traffic.

• Where it all began: Wuhan Airport reopens after lockdown

  Tuesday, April 14, 2020

  COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China. As the true scale of the virus and its potential was realized, the city’s Tianhe International Airport was one of the first to close as authorities sought to limit its spread. Now, 11 weeks after it was closed down, the airport has reopened to flights as China begins to see light at the end of the darkness. The first flight to arrive at Wuhan following the airport’s reopening was Xiamen Air’s MF8095 from Hangzhou shortly after 7 a.m. on the morning of April 8.

• Can airports survive the coronavirus crisis?

  Tuesday, March 31, 2020

  The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing an unprecedented crisis among the aviation industry, and it is threatening to drastically change the landscape and future of airports. With much of the world on lockdown and airlines effectively grounding their fleets, many airports are operating only a few key flights per day. Experiencing little demand, airports like Atlanta, Zurich and Frankfurt have assigned whole runways as temporary parking lots for grounded aircraft. Other airports, like Paris Orly and London City, have closed completely.

• How COVID-19 is affecting the world’s airports

  Tuesday, March 17, 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an unprecedented attack on air travel around the world, leaving airports, airlines and travelers exposed to a period of uncertainty that is difficult to prepare for. The outbreak began in China and spread throughout the countries of Asia, affecting many of the world’s biggest hub airports. Now, a few months down the line, the effect is already being felt. Passengers at Singapore Changi Airport in February were down 32.8% on last year.

• Heathrow’s future stalled as third runway is ruled unlawful

  Tuesday, March 03, 2020

  Plans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport have stalled as the U.K.'s Court of Appeal ruled the government's decision to allow it to be built was unlawful. The decision has been seen as a victory for climate change activists and those living around the airport who faced compulsory land purchase and years of disruption followed by the misery of extra noise and air pollution. However, for Heathrow and the U.K.'s air travel industry, it is a major blow that will mean a complete rethink over future strategy.

• Reagan National bids goodbye to Gate 35X with new terminal

  Tuesday, February 18, 2020

  Regular passengers who use Washington Reagan National Airport will be delighted to learn that a new terminal is being built. It will replace a crowded waiting area and awkward walk out to the aircraft. Gate 35X at the end of the commuter gate area in Reagan necessitates passengers waiting in a cramped downstairs space before walking out to a shuttle bus that takes them to their aircraft’s parking spot before boarding outside in the elements. Now, a new 14-gate terminal concourse building is to be built in place of Gate 35X, to the north of the current Terminal C.

• How Greece is improving its airports for the future

  Tuesday, February 04, 2020

  In Greece, a sweeping range of airport improvements and upgrades has just been approved by way of two major projects that will see a huge investment in the country's largest and busiest airport, and a brand-new airport for one of the country's main tourist destinations. Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, having opened in March 2001 to replace the older, crowded Ellinikon Airport. Now, in work estimated to cost around €700 million, the airport will be given space to grow and handle the expected future numbers of passengers and movements.

• Construction work begins on JFK’s Terminal 8

  Tuesday, January 21, 2020

  Work has begun on the expansion and rebuilding of New York JFK’s Terminal 8, a project that will cost $344 million and usher in passenger improvements to the airport. The work is a joint venture between American Airlines and British Airways, who are both Oneworld partners. Once completed, British Airways will move to Terminal 8 from its current Terminal 7, which itself will be closed and redeveloped. Terminal 8 is currently the largest at JFK. It is set to be redeveloped and expanded with five additional wide-body aircraft gates and four additional remote parking stands.

• How Tokyo’s Narita Airport is battling the growth of Haneda

  Tuesday, January 07, 2020

  Narita International Airport in Tokyo has seen a shift of traffic in recent years to Haneda Airport, which is closer to the city and regarded as more convenient. In order to recapture some of the market, Narita has unveiled a number of incentives and growth plans to attract airlines and passengers back to its runways. Opened in 1978, New Tokyo International Airport (as Narita was then known) was a controversial solution to overcrowding at Haneda. It quickly became the main gateway for international flights into Japan's capital.

• Struggling Atlantic City Airport is subject of future ownership study

  Tuesday, December 10, 2019

  Steps to throw New Jersey's struggling Atlantic City Airport a lifeline have taken a step forward with the appointment of a consultancy firm to further study whether the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) should take over the facility. Situated inland of the Atlantic coast gambling resort and its famous Boardwalk, Atlantic City Airport was founded as a Naval Air Station in 1942 and at present is served by only one carrier — Spirit Airlines, which flies to leisure destinations in Florida on a few daily flights.

• Bahrain’s new airport ambitions outshine current expansion

  Tuesday, November 26, 2019

  Look at a satellite view of the tiny Kingdom of Bahrain and, zooming closer, you’ll spot a number of airports and airfields in a relatively small land mass. Bahrain International Airport, the main passenger gateway in the northeastern corner of the island, serves this nation of 1.5 million people and its important oil industries. It is currently undergoing a $1.1 billion expansion project, but incredibly, the chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce has just announced this to be a temporary measure ahead of a brand-new airport being built.

• New Orleans’ new terminal puts it in the big leagues

  Tuesday, November 12, 2019

  Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport took a major step forward on Nov. 6 when it opened its new passenger terminal following six years of construction. Built on the north side of the airport, the new terminal completely replaces the aging terminals on the south side of the runways, which were consistently the focus of poor passenger opinions and failed to live up to the expectations of a modern airport and famous global destination. Unlike the 50-year-old terminal it replaces, the new facility at New Orleans offers high ceilings, plenty of light and modern amenities.

• Doha Hamad International plans two-phase expansion

  Tuesday, October 29, 2019

  Doha’s Hamad International Airport, currently ranked fourth-best in the world by Skytrax, is set to continue its push for dominance in the Gulf region following the announcement of the next stage of its expansion at the Cityscape Qatar event held near the end of October. Despite the ongoing blockade of flights between Qatar and both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which were among the busiest out of Doha, the airport is ready to increase its capacity and add major passenger-pleasing amenities to help it stand out from the crowd.

• Williston, North Dakota, is home to America’s newest airport

  Tuesday, October 15, 2019

  America’s newest airport opened to passengers on Oct. 10 when United Airlines Flight 4643 touched down, commencing a new era of connectivity to this growing part of North Dakota and its important oil fields. Williston Basin International Airport (code: XWA) is located 10 miles northwest of the city, which is itself in the northwestern part of the state. The region is home to the oil fields operated in the Bakken Formation. The area is currently experiencing a boom in output and drives the local economy.

• Beijing Daxing Airport opens, gives a big boost to Chinese aviation

  Monday, September 30, 2019

  Built to relieve pressure in one of the world's busiest cities for air travel, the new Daxing Airport near Beijing formally opened last week, with the first passengers boarding one of seven flights on the day of opening. With its iconic starfish-shaped terminal and world-class design, Daxing is set to become one of the world’s major air hubs. It was built as the city’s Capital Airport has started to reach a saturation point. China is expected to become the largest aviation market in the world by 2022.

• New study reveals Europe’s fastest-growing freight airport hubs

  Tuesday, September 17, 2019

  A new study by freight supplier CP Cases has revealed the current status of Europe’s cargo hubs and the airports that have been growing fastest in the sector. Obvious and well-known freight hubs naturally feature in the list when ranked by total tonnage. Because of the huge amount of belly cargo carried through passenger aircraft at these hubs, few of the dedicated cargo airports can compete with their capacity. However, a number of smaller airports rank highly in different categories, which is quite unexpected and could indicate the future places to watch as their cargo business develops.

• UK airports introducing new scanners to speed up security screening

  Tuesday, September 03, 2019

  Passing through security bag screening can quickly sour the joy of travel. Arriving at the scanner usually requires removing items of clothing and unpacking items from the bags you spent so long carefully packing. Now, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that new scanners, which have the potential to reduce the stress of screening and the time it takes, would be rolled out across the country’s airports over the next few years. One of the major benefits of the new scanners is in removing the need to remove liquids from luggage.

• The best and the worst of America’s airports

  Tuesday, August 20, 2019

  A new study is gaining a lot of attention as it gives travelers a ranking of the best and worst airports in America. The study published by The Points Guy (TPG) is now in its fourth year, and this time it ranks the top 50 airports in the country. Naturally, the airports at the top and bottom of the pile are receiving plenty of attention. They are San Diego in the top spot and Chicago Midway trailing in last place. While any ranking like this is largely subjective, this year the website made much more use of reader feedback, rather than solely the experiences of its own staff.

• How Milan’s airports are handling the temporary closure of Linate

  Tuesday, August 06, 2019

  Closing one of a country's busiest airports for three months in the summer period might sound like a recipe for disaster, but that's exactly what's happening in Milan as Linate Airport has ceased flights to undertake essential upgrades. Linate closed on July 27 following the final departure to Palermo late the previous evening. Work has now commenced on a string of upgrades to the airport — the most notable of which is the complete resurfacing of main runway 18/36. It is expected to reopen on Oct. 27.

• England’s Manston Airport set to reopen for flights and cargo

  Tuesday, July 23, 2019

  Thankfully, news of airports closing down is a rare occurrence, despite the challenges faced by increasing competition and capturing a slice of the passenger or cargo market. However, for the historic Manston Airport south of London, closure was a reality and since May 2014 the site has been abandoned, awaiting approval for a very different future. The plan had been to put housing and other development on the sprawling airport site. Now, in a major shift, the new owners of the airport have plans to restart flights and develop it once again as a center for aviation.

• Airports across the US to benefit from $495 million in infrastructure grants

  Tuesday, July 09, 2019

  U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced a major round of infrastructure funding to airports across the United States to help with much-needed rehabilitation and construction projects. In all, 358 grants have been awarded to 327 airports around the country in 46 states and several island territories. These range from smaller regional and general aviation facilities to large hub airports like Dallas-Fort Worth International, George Bush Intercontinental, San Diego International, and Las Vegas McCarran.

• Phoenix Sky Harbor submits 20-year master plan for improvements

  Tuesday, June 25, 2019

  Phoenix is an airport on the move, and if the FAA agrees, it could soon be spending $5.7 billion on upgrades to achieve a new 20-year plan. With aging infrastructure and a hemmed-in location, its owners have decided that now is the time to deal with the issues hindering its potential. The airport confirmed that the city’s mayor and council voted on June 11 to send its Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Comprehensive Asset Management Plan (CAMP) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval.

• Airport slot allocation management is about to get better

  Tuesday, June 11, 2019

  A new governing structure over the way airport slots are allocated and managed has been agreed upon by three industry associations. It is hoped that this arrangement will benefit passengers as air travel increases and more airports feel the pressure of demand. The agreement came at a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, and sees Airports Council International (ACI) World, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Worldwide Airport Coordinators Group (WWACG) agreeing to the new structure for the Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG) — a set of standards published by IATA for the management of airport slots.

• Amazon set to descend on Lakeland, Florida, bringing jobs and planes

  Wednesday, May 29, 2019

  Lakeland’s Linder Airport in central Florida will soon be the focus of large cargo jets and thousands of extra workers after a deal to bring a new Amazon air cargo facility was approved. While the roar of the Blue Eagles and historic piston aircraft at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In and Expo were still entertaining the crowds at the airport, the deal to bring Amazon in was entering its final stages.

• Frankfurt Terminal 3 construction begins with dedicated low-cost carrier pier

  Tuesday, May 14, 2019

  Construction has begun on the first phase of the next major expansion at Germany’s largest airport in Frankfurt, which will dramatically increase the airport's capacity, create thousands of new jobs, and a bring boost to the national and regional economies. Terminal 3 has been in the preparation stage for a number of years, with the airside apron and the building’s basement level works already completed. Now, the cornerstone of the above-ground works have been laid by Fraport AG, the airport's operator, and it hopes to have the terminal's first pier in operation within two years.

• How Louisville’s airport is planning for the future with a new name, $100 million overhaul

  Tuesday, April 30, 2019

  Louisville, Kentucky's airport is in the early stages of planning a major overhaul to help put improvements in place to its aging facilities and create a more favorable first impression to travelers. The Kentucky airport is currently implementing a name change following a vote in January, which has seen it become Louisville Muhammad Ali International in honor of its native son and sporting legend in the hope of increasing its global appeal. Now, the plan is to undertake a $100 million renovation of the airport, which will greatly improve the airport’s passenger terminal, as well as other infrastructure.

• Istanbul Airport’s great move completed

  Tuesday, April 16, 2019

  The story of one of the world's biggest airport projects took a huge step forward this month as the transfer of operations to the new Istanbul Airport was completed over a two-day period without any major problems. Set to become the world's largest airport, the new site north of Istanbul opened on Oct. 29 last year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. Since then, Turkish Airlines has operated a small number of daily departures from the facility ahead of the complete transfer this month.

• What the 2019 Skytrax World Airport Awards mean for US airports

  Tuesday, April 02, 2019

  The much-anticipated Skytrax World Airport Awards have been announced for 2019 and yet again there is little change among the world’s best airports, with no U.S. airports in the top 10. For the seventh consecutive year, Singapore Changi Airport has taken the crown as the world’s best facility. Denver is the top-rated airport in the United States. It credits five consecutive years of passenger traffic growth as the reason for its popularity. Yet, with Denver at position 32 in the global list, why are America's airports again so far behind those in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa?

• Sint Maarten traffic bouncing back after hurricanes, but finances are precarious

  Tuesday, March 19, 2019

  The Caribbean island airport at Sint Maarten, popular for its low-flying aircraft over the neighboring beach, is slowly returning to normalcy following devastation from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, with more routes returning. However, a tricky financial situation is putting further pressure on operations. The two hurricanes wiped out much of the infrastructure on the twin-nation island, with Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) seeing its terminal out of action for months and the airfield in disarray. When flights tentatively resumed, passengers were forced to use tents as temporary arrivals and departures zones, and many of the airport's regular airlines suspended flights for a number of months.

• Large new logistics center to boost San Bernardino’s cargo capabilities

  Tuesday, March 05, 2019

  One of California’s most successful cargo airports is set to benefit from major development and investment to further cement its position as one of Southern California’s primary freight centers. The Eastgate Air Cargo Logistics Center will be built on 101 acres of vacant land at San Bernardino International Airport, with plans for a 658,000-square-foot distribution center and parking for up to 16 aircraft outside. Last year, Mark Gibbs, director of aviation at the airport, said, "There’s tremendous opportunity here for air cargo and logistics companies to realize significant efficiencies and lower expansion costs." It seems this has now come true.

• Jakarta, Indonesia’s new airport could be built starting in 2021

  Tuesday, February 19, 2019

  Indonesia is one of the nations in the Asia-Pacific region at the center of a growing demand for air travel, which is putting immense pressure on existing airport facilities. With the likes of Bangkok, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur looking at solutions to increase their capacities, Indonesia’s main airport operator, Angkasa Pura II, has revealed plans to build a brand-new airport for Jakarta. Construction could begin in 2021. The announcement naturally raised a few uncertainties over how the project will proceed. A lot of ground needs to be covered before work can commence.

• Anchorage airport saw its best year ever with record passenger, cargo figures in 2018

  Tuesday, February 05, 2019

  Alaska's principal gateway is celebrating its best year ever following publication of its 2018 figures, which showed record passenger numbers and major growth in its cargo business. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport reported last week that more than 5.6 million passengers passed through its gates last year, which was a 3.1 percent increase on 2017. What is suddenly making this remote hub more attractive? Airport Manager Jim Szczesniak has attributed "the vast majority of this increase was driven by tourism and that translates into tens of millions of additional dollars being poured into Alaska’s economy."

• Airports encouraged to invest in anti-drone measures before the threats grow

  Tuesday, January 22, 2019

  Following the drone attacks at London Gatwick airport in December and the crippling closure of the airport to air traffic at one of the busiest periods of the year for air travel, airports are being encouraged to invest in developing measures to counter the threat before it can develop. The actions taken at Gatwick from Dec. 19-21 (and briefly at Heathrow on Jan. 8) followed the standard response when a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle enters the control zone of an active airport. The potentially catastrophic result of a collision between an aircraft and drone poses an unimaginable threat. In the case of Gatwick, it uncovered just how open airports are to this kind of attack and how ill-equipped they are to countering such an attack.

• Washington state’s Paine Field gears up for its next stage

  Thursday, January 10, 2019

  Next month, Paine Field, north of Seattle in Snohomish County, Washington, will enter an exciting new phase in its life with the beginning of scheduled passenger services. As the first flights approach, the new terminal building has reached the final stages of construction and looks set to be one of the most attractive facilities for passengers in the country. Flights begin operating out of Paine Field on Feb. 11 when Alaska Airlines commences service to Las Vegas, followed the next day by Los Angeles and San Jose.

• Addis Ababa takes Dubai’s crown as the gateway to Africa

  Tuesday, December 18, 2018

  Travelers are now more likely to pass through Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport when connecting to destinations in Africa than any other gateway thanks to a number of factors that have made it easier and more attractive to do so. The Ethiopian hub has taken the crown from Dubai International, which has for many years been the most common connecting point to the African continent. Africa’s largest and fastest growing carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is helping to grow Addis Ababa through targeted expansion in its long-haul and regional network.

• How hidden technology is making airports more efficient

  Tuesday, December 04, 2018

  The average visit to an airport to take a flight can take some predictable forms for most passengers; arrive at the parking garage, pass through security screening, visit some concessions, walk to the gate, and ultimately depart. Now, technology behind the scenes is helping to identify ways to make the process more seamless for the passenger, and more profitable for the airport. A sensing technology known as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is being employed by specialist companies to analyze data on how passengers are using airports.

• Amsterdam Schiphol expansion proposed as Lelystad delayed

  Tuesday, November 20, 2018

  Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands needs to find creative ways to cope with capacity issues and is hoping further expansion could give it breathing space as it awaits the opening of Lelystad as a sister airport. Proposals to develop Lelystad, some 30 miles east of the city, into a commercial airport to handle Schiphol’s low-cost and leisure flights have been delayed to 2020 instead of next year to allow more time to consult with users and local residents. In the short term, this gives Schiphol a headache.

• San Antonio mulls options to expand its airport

  Tuesday, November 06, 2018

  San Antonio’s airport registered a record month of passenger traffic in September, which followed two consecutive years of growth. With millions of extra passengers anticipated over the coming years, the city’s airport officials have been trying to decide on the best way forward, and they may have made a decision. For a long while, an option for the future of air travel in San Antonio has been to start again with a brand-new airport on a different site. However, an estimated price tag of $10 billion to create a new airport has proved unpopular to cash-strapped officials under pressure to provide a solution sooner rather than later.

• London Gatwick plans expansion, 2nd runway utilization

  Tuesday, October 23, 2018

  The world’s busiest single-runway airport may have just found a way to utilize a second runway without actually building one. This comes as London Gatwick has published a new master plan to set growth in place over the coming decades. In its own words, Gatwick has unveiled an "ambitious vision for the future," which aims to plan for the long-term at a time when it has continually been snubbed by the U.K. government in favor of building a new runway at Heathrow.

• The $13 billion plan to rebuild New York’s JFK Airport

  Tuesday, October 09, 2018

  Seven years of construction work are slated to tackle the growing problems at New York’s JFK Airport in a plan announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Oct. 4 that will see two new terminals and a raft of changes to improve the experience for passengers. This is the next stage of the program to upgrade JFK, first announced in January 2017, when Cuomo promised that the airport was "next in line" following work starting on LaGuardia.

• Plans changed for new international terminal at Houston Bush

  Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  A recent meeting confirmed a change of plans for the new international terminal at Houston George Bush Intercontinental to better address congestion and allow the airport to cope with its growing prominence as an international gateway. Set to open in 2024, the new proposals for the international terminal would see the existing Terminals D and E combined into a single terminal. It would cost $1.2 billion and aims to replicate the setup of the airport’s other terminals.

• Natural disasters collide with airports in Japan

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018

  It’s been a challenging start to September for airport operators in Japan. The country has faced the effects of a typhoon and a 6.7 magnitude earthquake. Neither are unusual phenomena in the Land of the Rising Sun. However, in these particular instances, major airports and their travelers were severely impacted by the events. Typhoon Jebi hit the eastern part of the island nation on Sept. 4 and was the worst experienced in 25 years. It caused damage to buildings and infrastructure, loss of power supplies, and towering seas and storm surges along the shoreline.

• Colorado gets its first spaceport

  Tuesday, August 28, 2018

  A seven-year wait has paid off for a general aviation airport near Denver, as it has received approval to become only the 11th commercial spaceport in the country. However, not all parties are as pleased with the news and its potential impact. Front Range Airport, less than 8 miles from Denver International Airport, is a two-runway general aviation field with no airline service but a number of based aircraft and private operators. The airport has now been renamed Colorado Air and Space Port following approval by the Federal Aviation Administration, which spent 180 days reviewing the application.

• Turkish Airlines prepares for Istanbul New Airport amid rumors of stake in old airport

  Tuesday, August 14, 2018

  Turkish Airlines, on the back of its highest ever load factors, has undertaken a trial operation of the Istanbul New Airport and announced plans for the largest movement of equipment in civil aviation history ahead of its October opening. It has certainly been a momentous time for the Turkish flag carrier and its growing dominance of air travel in Europe and the Middle East. On Aug. 9, the airline reported it carried a record 7.5 million passengers and 119,000 tons of cargo in July, marking its best ever month, with a $258 million net operating profit in the first half of 2018.

• Edmonton tackles fence security with autonomous vehicles

  Tuesday, August 07, 2018

  Edmonton International Airport (EIA) is leading the way in developing systems to protect the safety of its perimeter by introducing a new autonomous vehicle that offers an extra set of eyes around the miles of fencing that are hard to patrol in person. I reported last month about the problems airports are facing in securing the vast areas of land away from the passenger terminals, which could prove an easy target to those intent on breaking onto airport property and causing danger.

• Singapore’s Seletar Airport gets ready for passengers

  Tuesday, July 17, 2018

  Pressure will soon be relieved on Singapore’s Changi Airport, as plans to open a new passenger terminal at the smaller Seletar Airport in the north of the city-state are on track. The structure is due to open later this year. Seletar is 19 miles north of Changi. Built as a Royal Air Force station in 1928, it saw action during World War II and can claim to be Singapore’s first international airport. Today, the airport is a busy general aviation facility, with flight training establishments and a number of maintenance operators providing heavy engineering services from the single-runway site.

• Are airports relying on security breaches simply not happening?

  Monday, July 02, 2018

  An incident at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on June 27 highlighted how a security breach can happen at an airport, when a man scaled the perimeter fence and ran towards a Delta airliner before climbing on the wing and terrorizing passengers aboard the aircraft who watched through the windows in fear. If this can happen at the world’s busiest airport, with its 2,000 closed-circuit TV cameras, then surely it can happen anywhere. Can such an invasion realistically be stopped?

• A long road ahead for Heathrow expansion, despite optimism

  Tuesday, June 19, 2018

  If anyone needed convincing on just how full London Heathrow airport is, the month of May saw a staggering 6.7 million travelers pass through, thanks mostly to a royal wedding and the start of the summer tourist season. So, when the U.K. government gave almost unanimous support for expansion on June 5, most of those who have to use the airport gave a sigh of relief. Yet, this 20-years-in-the-making saga has only taken a small step forward, and more agonizing hurdles could still blight the airport’s bid to expand and keep pace with its rivals in continental Europe.

• The future of Denver International Airport takes shape

  Tuesday, June 05, 2018

  Groundbreaking has begun on a new project to ease congestion and increase the gate capacity at Denver International by 30 percent. It comes at a time when the airport is handling record numbers of passengers, destinations and achieving awards for its efforts. The project will see an extra 39 gates added to the terminal. These will be split over the three concourses, with 12 added to concourse A — including international arrival gates; 11 to be added to concourse B and 16 to concourse C.

• Date announced for opening of new Beijing Airport

  Tuesday, May 22, 2018

  China’s new world-beating mega-hub airport at Daxing, near Beijing, has taken a step closer to becoming operational by announcing its planned opening date in October next year. Work on the airport has been steadily progressing for a number of years at the site nearly 30 miles from the center of Beijing, with a design set to match the requirements of today’s travelers and the massive demand for air travel in China.

• Nashville’s vision advances as new flight arrives

  Tuesday, May 08, 2018

  May 4 saw a significant moment in the history of Nashville International Airport (BNA) when a new nonstop, long-haul flight from London arrived. However, the arrival meant a rushed effort to provide a gate capable of accommodating the Dreamliner aircraft in the weeks leading up to the event. It is just the latest step in the vision to transform the airport by 2023. The new five-times-weekly nonstop flight to London is the first time in 25 years that the two cities have been linked, and the first long-haul service at BNA for just as long, following the demise of the former American Airlines hub at the airport.

• Carlisle: Britain’s newest regional airport

  Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  An ambitious rebirth will take place in June at Britain's newest regional airport. Carlisle Lake District last handled scheduled flights in 1993, but with a new terminal and upgraded infrastructure it is set to come back to life with the hope of attracting hundreds of thousands of passengers to the tourist region it represents.

• Spokane Airport readies for expansion

  Monday, April 09, 2018

  Spokane International Airport experienced a record year in 2017 and is expecting an additional 550 flights this month over the same period last year. On the back of this, it is pushing ahead with plans for expansion to meet future growth.

• London Gatwick first to test driverless vehicles

  Monday, March 26, 2018

  ​London's Gatwick Airport has announced its intention to become the first airport in the world to investigate the use of driverless, autonomous vehicles in a new trial to be conducted this summer, ​according to the airport's website.

• San Francisco International gets that sinking feeling

  Tuesday, March 13, 2018

  An expensive time bomb is ticking in the San Francisco Bay area following the publication of a new study that has found large parts of the region to be sinking at an alarming rate. The threat also covers the reclaimed land which is home to San Francisco International (SFO) and much of its infrastructure. Scientists at NASA’s Sea Level Change planning team and at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) published the findings on March 7 in the Science Advances journal.

• Sharjah Airport developing facilities with confusion over dates

  Tuesday, February 27, 2018

  ​Aviation in the United Arab Emirates focuses on the huge hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the new Dubai World Central set to take center stage at some point in the near future. Yet when planes first started stopping in the area on their east-west journeys across the British Empire, a small outpost that is now part of a residential complex in central Sharjah was the passenger terminal of choice.

• Sea-Tac construction projects continuing after record year

  Tuesday, February 13, 2018

  This week, Seattle Tacoma International Airport began its latest Central Terminal construction project as figures for 2017 show the airport achieved a record year for passenger numbers and cargo handled, and the Seattle area as a whole experiences economic boom.

• Seoul Incheon opens new terminal in time for Olympics

  Tuesday, January 30, 2018

  Seoul Incheon has opened its new terminal as South Korea prepares to welcome thousands of visitors to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games next month, showcasing a country at the forefront of aviation and airport technology.

• Sacramento calling European LCCs

  Tuesday, January 16, 2018

  ​California's traditional long-haul gateways have another competitor to deal with as Sacramento International Airport looks to incentivize bringing new routes in from Europe's low-cost carriers (LCCs).

• Liege capitalizing on Amsterdam’s cargo woes

  Tuesday, January 02, 2018

  ​Liege Airport is investing heavily to capitalize on problems being experienced with slots and capacity available to cargo aircraft at neighboring airports, including Schiphol in Amsterdam, by increasing its own capacity.

• Newark Liberty approved for $500 million redevelopment

  Tuesday, December 12, 2017

  ​A third New York airport is now able to step forward in plans to drag the city's gateways out of the past and surge ahead with redevelopments following approval of almost $500 million in funding by the Port Authority.

• Manston: The airport that refuses to die

  Tuesday, November 28, 2017

  Manston is one of the UK's most historic airfields. Used for flight training during World War I, it became a base during World War II for pilots engaging in aerial dogfighting in the Battle of Britain, and was one of the country's closest airfields to the enemy during the conflict.

• Excitement and a bright future for Kansas City International Airport

  Tuesday, November 14, 2017

  ​The wilderness years of downtrodden Kansas City International (KCI) and its passengers could finally be coming to an end with the recent approval of a plan to rebuild its terminal for the modern age of air travel.

• London City’s vision, 30 years in the making

  Tuesday, October 31, 2017

  ​Thirty years ago, an area of derelict dockland close to the center of London was transformed and opened as the city's newest airport, with hopes of developing passenger services where only certain aircraft could land at the restrictive location.

• There’s something fishy about Dubai Airport’s new screening process

  Tuesday, October 17, 2017

  Starting next year, passengers at Dubai International Airport could transit security screening in one of the most unusual ways ever seen as it introduces new "smart tunnels" to tackle one of the most critical stages in the airport journey.

• American airports reach all-time satisfaction high

  Friday, September 29, 2017

  ​Efforts to turn around the trend of a universally poor passenger experience at America's airports appears to be paying off, with ​a recent J.D. Power survey proclaiming passenger satisfaction at an all-time high across the range of airports in the survey.

• Pittsburgh International Airport’s $1 billion overhaul

  Monday, September 18, 2017

  Pittsburgh International Airport is set for a major overhaul, with plans to spend $1.1 billion on transforming it into a facility that is fit for purpose and not based on the way it was in the past. In 1987, Pittsburgh was a major, growing hub for then USAir, which later became US Airways. At the airline's request, and with their funding, a revolutionary new terminal concept was built and opened in 1992.

• The ongoing saga of Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport

  Wednesday, September 06, 2017

  The parking stands and runways outside Berlin's new Brandenburg Airport came alive to the sound of jet engines last week. The discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb at nearby Tegel Airport caused chaos, and aircraft diverted to Schönefeld Airport, the site of the new Brandenburg.

• Near miss rewrites air traffic rules at SFO

  Wednesday, August 23, 2017

  ​A much-publicized near-miss incident at San Francisco International Airport in July has led to the introduction of new rules for air traffic using the airport at night, and on controllers working at the airport.

• Manchester’s new megaterminal under construction

  Tuesday, August 08, 2017

  ​Work has begun on Manchester Airport's milestone terminal project, which will see a large part of the airport reinvented and capacity significantly increased.

• The $1 billion plan to improve Portland’s airport

  Tuesday, July 25, 2017

  ​It may be one of the nation's favorite airports, but Portland International wants to spend more than $1 billion on an upgrade to tackle problems which have been creeping up over a number of years. Ever since 9/11, authorities in Portland have found facilities becoming increasingly stretched as passenger figures have grown. This is particularly evident in the security screening areas, which now require greater space to cope with passenger lines, security operatives and their ever-stringent procedures.

• The highs and lows of traveling to Heathrow

  Tuesday, July 11, 2017

  It has been a week of interesting developments for Heathrow Airport near London as proposals to tackle issues with, and improve the availability of, ground transport to and from the airport were announced. First, the ongoing saga of bringing the new Crossrail underground line to the airport received a welcome boost after Terminal 5 — the busy hub of British Airways at the airport — had confirmation that it would be served by the trains, which will link passengers to central London.

• Chaos in Arizona: What happens when it’s too hot to fly?

  Tuesday, June 27, 2017

  The headlines over recent weeks about soaring temperatures causing flight cancellations have meant frustration and shock at how it can be too hot to fly. How are airports and airlines handling the situation? Much of the news has centered around Phoenix Sky Harbor airport in Arizona. Local temperatures have soared close to 120 degrees during intense summer heat affecting the whole Southwest region. As a result, the airport saw numerous cancellations and delays of flights over a few days, simply citing the temperatures as the reason aircraft could not fly.

• Move over, controller: Digital towers arrive in the UK

  Monday, June 12, 2017

  London City — the famous airport built in the heart of the former docklands in the UK capital — will become the first airport in the country to introduce a digital control tower, replacing binoculars with cameras and a control room almost 100 miles away.

• How are airports handling the electronics ban?

  Tuesday, May 30, 2017

  Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced Sunday the news travelers have been hoping to avoid: that the ban on carrying laptops and larger electronic items in the aircraft cabin may be extended to all international flights in and out of the United States.

• Work begins on Boeing’s first overseas production plant

  Tuesday, May 16, 2017

  ​A strategic plan by Boeing to streamline output of its most popular airplane has taken a step closer to reality this week as work commenced on a new completion and delivery plant in China. The facility is located at Zhoushan Airport in eastern China, some 175 miles by road from Shanghai on an island in the East China Sea.

• FAA evaluates drone protection at DFW

  Tuesday, May 02, 2017

  Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has been the scene of breakthrough tests in the detection of drones by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week, in the hope of developing an extra layer of safety from the growing threat the remote-controlled aircraft pose.

• Breathing room for Stansted with new arrivals terminal

  Tuesday, April 18, 2017

  London Stansted Airport has been given planning approval for the construction of a new arrivals-only terminal alongside the existing facility. This will give the airport space to breathe as it capitalizes on new routes and overcrowding at other London airports. When constructed in the early 1990s, Stansted's Norman Foster-designed terminal building heralded a new era for the quiet regional airport 30 miles north of central London. Coinciding with the low-cost revolution, the airport became an important gateway to the city and South East England.

• Airlines to perform a terminal dance at LAX

  Wednesday, April 05, 2017

  ​Los Angeles Airport (LAX) is hoping its resident airlines can pull off a major logistical effort without causing chaos for passengers over one weekend in May when a planned switch takes place. In all, 28 separate airlines will relocate from their current terminals at LAX to a new set of gates as the airport continues its modernization process.

• Improvements pay off in Skytrax 2017 World Airport Awards

  Tuesday, March 21, 2017

  This year's Skytrax World Airport Awards are in, naming the world's best airports as voted for by the passengers who use them. For some, little has changed, and others are seeing the effort of improving customer service and redeveloping infrastructure paying off. So, what can we learn from this year's rankings?

• Get ready to pay more to improve US airports

  Tuesday, March 07, 2017

  Airports and airlines across the United States have been reacting to a new bill put forward by Congress that could increase ticket prices, as a passenger fee cap is lifted for the first time in over 15 years. Passenger Facility Fees (PFC) are a common way for airports and their operators to raise revenues on top of charges to airlines for every passenger passing through them, whether inbound or outbound. Under the new terms put forward by Congress, airports would be allowed to set their own PFC in accordance with their needs.

• Pressure mounting for new Sydney airport deal

  Monday, February 20, 2017

  The saga surrounding the construction of a new airport in Sydney, Australia, has continued to unfold over the past week, as pressure has been placed on the developers to confirm their plans, and the government has been asked for money to ease the burden. The new airport for Sydney is to be constructed at Badgerys Creek, to the west of the city. The Australian government has a target of 2026 to have the facility operational and open to flights in a bid to ease congestion at the existing Kingsford Smith Airport.

• Amazon chooses Cincinnati for new worldwide hub

  Tuesday, February 07, 2017

  Online retail giant Amazon began flying its own packages last year when it started leasing cargo planes and flying them under the Prime Air brand. Now, the company has announced plans to open its largest worldwide air hub — investing $1.49 billion in a new home for its operations at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.

• Dublin Airport growing but seeks more time to expand

  Tuesday, January 24, 2017

  ​Dublin Airport in Ireland is celebrating its busiest year yet, having handled almost 28 million passengers in 2018 — a record for the airport, which acts as a hub for IAG's Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Now, as work commences on its most ambitious construction project in years, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is seeking an extension to its planning permission in order to complete the works before it expires.

• JFK is next in line for $10 billion overhaul

  Tuesday, January 10, 2017

  ​A study by a panel into the state of New York's airports has come to the unsurprising conclusion that John F. Kennedy International Airport is in need of an overhaul. As a result, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo kicked off 2017 by announcing a $10 billion plan to revamp the airport and its transport network to improve the experience for travelers.

• GoldCare maintenance deal is a boon for Gatwick

  Tuesday, December 06, 2016

  Gatwick Airport may still be reeling from the U.K. government's recent decision to award a new London runway to rival Heathrow Airport, but the city's second-largest gateway has at least received some good news with a landmark deal to bring Boeing GoldCare maintenance to the site.

• San Francisco may have found a solution to its noisy approach paths

  Monday, November 21, 2016

  Residents of areas under controversial new approach paths to San Francisco International Airport have been awaiting the outcome of meetings aimed at relieving the constant noise from aircraft. But will the decision made last week simply relocate the problem to other neighborhoods?

• The road ahead for Heathrow’s third runway

  Tuesday, November 08, 2016

  As a Brit with an interest in aviation development, I welcomed the U.K. government's long-awaited decision on airport expansion in the London area, which came Oct. 25 with the announcement that Heathrow Airport had been chosen as the site for a new runway.

• Mixed opinions over opportunity to sell Canada’s airports

  Tuesday, October 25, 2016

  For the first time in nearly 30 years, investors could have the opportunity to take control of Canada's largest airports as the country's government mulls selling them off. But will passengers benefit or pay the cost of the upheaval?

• Why Singapore Changi is consistently the best airport in the world

  Tuesday, October 11, 2016

  ​Look at the Skytrax rankings for the world's best airports, and you'll see a common name topping a number of categories for the past few years. Singapore's Changi Airport repeatedly sets the target for passenger experiences, but what makes it so special?

• Why segmentation is the latest buzzword in airline service

  Tuesday, September 27, 2016

  ​Competing with increasingly aggressive low-cost carriers while balancing the expectations of loyal customers has become a full-time focus for legacy airlines and full-service carriers. Now, the latest strategy is to cover all areas through clever segmentation of the aircraft cabin and ticket prices.

• St. Louis comes first in Lambert Airport renaming

  Tuesday, September 13, 2016

  Lambert-St. Louis International in Missouri is to get a new name after airport commissioners voted last week to realign it for better visibility and familiarity among the traveling public. Originally, officials planned to rename the airport St. Louis International at Lambert Field, but the decision was made to instead simply switch the existing name to include the city first, becoming St. Louis-Lambert International. This was agreed upon following a plea from the descendants of Albert Bond Lambert and some other locals to keep his name as a prominent feature.

• Auckland Airport profits from investment

  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

  ​Demand at Auckland Airport in New Zealand has been at an incredible high, and it seems to have paid off as the airport ​has seen large profits reported over the past year. Staff at the airport will reportedly received a $1,500 bonus as a result of the profits, which rose to $264.2 million on revenue of $573.9 million, up some 17 percent over the previous year to June 30, 2016.

• Creating a smaller Pittsburgh Airport could be the answer

  Tuesday, August 16, 2016

  Pittsburgh Airport was once a thriving hub in the US Airways network, upgraded in the early 2000s to handle 35 million passengers per year. But walk the concourses today and in some areas you'll be lucky to see many active gates and passengers.

• India’s new civil aviation policy targets connectivity

  Tuesday, August 02, 2016

  India's aviation landscape is poised for great things as new markets are developed and the large population is linked by air. Now, the Indian government has announced a new civil aviation policy that will encourage positive changes and better connectivity.

• Will upgrades help improve O’Hare’s flight delay issues?

  Tuesday, July 19, 2016

  As it teeters just under the top position of busiest airport in America, Chicago O'Hare appears to be making all the right moves to address its difficulties and bottlenecks as it pushes ahead with upgrades.

• Bursting at the seams, Washington Reagan turns 75

  Tuesday, July 05, 2016

  On June 16, a restored American Airlines Douglas DC-3 airliner sat on the tarmac at Washington Reagan National Airport while dignitaries and invited guests raised their glasses to toast the 75th anniversary of this popular airport at the heart of the nation's capital.

• Brexit leave vote pushes case for UK airport expansion

  Friday, June 24, 2016

  The decision on the United Kingdom's future membership of the European Union was made overnight with news breaking about the "Brexit" as most of the country awoke June 24. As the enormity of the news settled, the country's airports responded with their own take on what it means for their futures.

• Airports and airlines urge against Britain leaving the EU

  Tuesday, June 14, 2016

  ​With the important referendum vote on Great Britain's membership of the European Union almost upon us, the country's airports and airlines are urging a vote to remain or face increased costs and a downturn in travel. A key voice in the debate is London Heathrow Airport — the United Kingdom's only large hub, and its busiest gateway.

• What’s next for TSA after security head’s ouster?

  Tuesday, May 31, 2016

  Headaches from long lines and staffing problems at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have led to the replacement of its head of security as it urgently seeks a solution to the issues and criticisms faced over recent weeks. The decision was recently made to replace Kelly Hoggan, not because of any wrongdoing, it was claimed, but because a "different approach" was needed in order to get the organization back on track and deal with mounting pressure from the public and airlines.

• Cheyenne presses ahead with airport upgrade

  Tuesday, May 17, 2016

  ​One of Wyoming's least-used airports has been struggling to attract sufficient airline business in what it sees as a glut in the industry. Yet Cheyenne Regional Airport is pushing ahead with a brand new terminal and upgrade plan that will improve the facilities, if the budget can be kept under control.

• St. Helena’s new airport opening delayed

  Tuesday, May 03, 2016

  Bringing air travel to one of the world's most remote communities is not proving as easy as officials hoped for at a brand new international airport. The volcanic outpost of St. Helena in the South Atlantic has been restricted in options for travel as long as it has been inhabited, relying on weekly ship connections to bring vital produce, mail and a means of traveling to the outside world.

• Airports, TSA battle over passenger wait times

  Wednesday, April 20, 2016

  Before the busiest period of the year is even upon us, America's airports and their passengers are facing unacceptable wait times to pass through security screening, regularly resulting in missed flights and a strain on facilities. The issue was highlighted over Easter weekend when 29,900 passengers were processed on Good Friday at Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina.

• Dubai introduces controversial new passenger fee

  Tuesday, April 05, 2016

  A controversial new fee has been approved at Dubai International Airport to help fund expansion and offset revenue losses in the country. Famed for its tax-free lifestyle and incredible riches that have come about as a result of the country's oil wealth, the United Arab Emirates may have surprised a few experts with the announcement that its busy gateway airport will ask all passengers to pay for its use.

• What does the Skytrax survey say about America’s airports?

  Tuesday, March 22, 2016

  The 2016 Skytrax World Airport Awards are in, and it doesn't look too impressive for America's airports. The full list of the world's top 100 airports is based on highly respected methodologies in surveying more than 13 million passengers on a variety of ratings and determining the best airports in the world.

• London City Airport sold for record sum

  Tuesday, March 08, 2016

  Bidders were fighting to the end over the purchase of the tiny and restricted London City Airport in the heart of the financial district of the British capital, with a record sum being paid. Built in 1987 as an experiment to turn derelict dockland into a commuter airport to service new commercial developments, London City has grown into a busy airport that has almost reached capacity and even has transatlantic links.

• Orlando Sanford planning expansion to continue growth

  Tuesday, February 23, 2016

  Central Florida's second-largest airport plans to capitalize on its "simpler, faster and better" facility and its military heritage as focus turns toward expansion and remodeling. Sanford International Airport made the announcement last week that it hopes to spend $43 million in expanding and improving facilities for passengers and airlines.

• With sanctions lifted, Iran’s airports eye period of growth

  Tuesday, February 09, 2016

  With sanctions lifted on Iran, its long forgotten aviation infrastructure is set to be revitalized. At the recent CAPA Iran Aviation Summit, Abbas Akhoundi, Iran's transport minister, invited foreign investors to come and rebuild the country's airports. So what does the future hold?

• LA/Ontario puts building blocks in place for return to growth

  Tuesday, January 26, 2016

  LA/Ontario International Airport, one of the main gateways to Los Angeles, is targeting a return to growth under new CEO Kelly J. Fredericks. Five months of searching led to the appointment of Fredericks, who is vacating the post of president and CEO of T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. He will join the Los Angeles airport in early March.

• 2015 proves to be a record year for airports across Europe

  Tuesday, January 12, 2016

  With a new year upon us, airports around the globe are using the opportunity to promote their 2015 figures and proclaim the positive news and record statistics. In Europe, airports reporting positive news include London Luton, which has seen double-digit growth every month over the past year and is benefiting from the capacity constraints at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

• Santa Monica Airport offered reprieve

  Monday, December 14, 2015

  ​Santa Monica Airport has been granted a reprieve from closure after the Federal Aviation Administration ruled that a clause in its grant funding must ensure the facility stays open until 2023. Aviators using the airport, which include celebrities Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise, will breathe a sigh of relief that the constricted site will remain open for a little longer. Renowned as a hub of general aviation in the Los Angeles area, it is a convenient alternative to the larger airports in the city.

• Airports face up to security challenges in wake of ISIS attacks

  Tuesday, December 01, 2015

  Recent tragic events in Egypt and France have caused alarm and unrest among travelers and airport operators who are keen to ensure security remains watertight and safe when the threat of terrorism remains at one of its highest and most unpredictable levels.

• New Salt Lake City Airport plans revealed

  Tuesday, November 17, 2015

  In five years' time, the newly rebuilt Salt Lake City Airport will be open to passengers and flights, and details of what it will look like were recently revealed. The ambitious plan is set to revitalize the outdated passenger terminal and provide "an immediate sense of place," according to Airport Executive Director Maureen Riley.

• FedEx has big plans for Milan

  Tuesday, November 03, 2015

  At Milan Malpensa Airport, construction has begun on a new state-of-the-art facility that will form a new hub for freight and logistics giant FedEx Express once completed. The new facility will cover 35,000 square meters and will triple the size of the carrier's current operation at Malpensa. The site will include 15,000 square meters of covered warehousing, 1,000 square meters of office space, and 20,000 square meters of area for vehicle use. It will allow the carrier to handle up to 44 flights per day and 480 weekly land connections.

• Oklahoma City expanding terminal to accommodate increase in passengers

  Tuesday, October 20, 2015

  ​Oklahoma City Will Rogers World Airport ​has set forth designs for an impressive new addition to its terminal that will improve the passenger experience and allow expansion at the airport for the foreseeable future.

• Princess Juliana eyeing hub status and more international flights

  Tuesday, October 06, 2015

  Princess Juliana Airport on St. Maarten (SXM) is looking to bolster its position as a hub within the Caribbean. The airport wants to improve connectivity to neighboring islands through partners such as Winair and provide better connections to its international services.

• Airbus aircraft production goes Mobile

  Tuesday, September 22, 2015

  European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has made history with the opening of its new facility in Mobile, Alabama, at the former Brookley Air Force Base. The company should see its first aircraft delivered early in 2016 and thousands of jobs created in the production chain.

• Istanbul’s 3rd airport on track for 2018

  Tuesday, September 08, 2015

  ​DHMI, the State Airports Management General Directorate of Turkey, ​said at a recent media event that Istanbul's new third airport is set to open in early 2018 "with no delay." This date indicates the construction has suffered a slight delay, given the original planned opening was for late 2017. DHMI General Director Serdar Huseyin Yildirim nevertheless insisted there would be no delays, stating, "We are planning to start operations in the first quarter of 2018, to have the first takeoff and landing."

• The great LaGuardia debate

  Tuesday, August 25, 2015

  Airport officials announced last month that New York's LaGuardia Airport would receive a $4 billion overhaul that would rebuild and revitalize the crowded terminals and airside areas. The initial response for many was that it couldn't come a minute sooner.

• London City Airport up for sale

  Tuesday, August 11, 2015

  One of Europe's hottest airport properties is up for sale at a price that reflects just how far it has come in its relatively short lifespan. The sale also shows how much potential it has — if a few stumbling blocks can be overcome.

• Glacier Park International looking conservatively at growth

  Tuesday, July 28, 2015

  With a record month for passengers in June and a significant upgrade of its facilities coming to a close, Glacier Park International Airport is already looking at future growth over coming years. The airport, located in Kalispell, Montana, saw 21,280 enplanements in June, which was up by more than a thousand passengers compared to the previous year. Its 2014 passenger figures announced earlier this year were at 227,561, which marked an increase of almost 3 percent.

• Long Thanh Airport project forges ahead

  Tuesday, July 14, 2015

  The development of a major new airport for Vietnam will continue as the country's aviation industry grows, and as it seeks to become a much larger player in Southeast Asia for passengers and airlines. The Long Thanh Airport project was first unveiled in 2013 to relieve pressure on and eventually replace the existing Tan Son Nhat airport, which currently serves the capital, Ho Chi Minh City.

• New commissioner addresses Chicago O’Hare’s future

  Tuesday, June 30, 2015

  Ginger S. Evans, incoming commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, addressed an audience of civic and government leaders June 25 at the City Club of Chicago to discuss the importance of the city's airports to its economy and future growth. She talked about the challenges ahead — particularly at O'Hare, which is in need of expansion and streamlining if it is to remain competitive as a leading world hub.

• UAE airports, airlines poised to continue explosive growth

  Tuesday, June 16, 2015

  Controversy between the U.S. and Middle East carriers may be rife, but the explosive growth of the region's airports and airlines is not showing any signs of slowing over the next decade. An investment of $68 billion is now in place to provide growth in the airports of the United Arab Emirates, which count Abu Dhabi, Dubai International and Dubai Al Maktoum among its number, alongside the smaller Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah airports.

• How will US prescreening expansion affect air travel?

  Tuesday, June 09, 2015

  Prescreening facilities for passengers traveling on international flights to the United States are to be expanded to up to 10 more key cities in a bid to improve the handling of passengers upon arrival to the country's main gateways.

• Belfast City hoping for an end to seat embargo

  Tuesday, May 19, 2015

  ​Belfast City George Best Airport in Northern Ireland is hoping that an embargo on the number of seats it can sell will be lifted after an upcoming public inquiry. The current limit restricts the airport to selling a maximum of 2 million seats on flights to and from the airport. It was put in place in 2004 to protect local residents from the environmental issues and noise that a busier airport would potentially bring.

• Port Columbus Airport plans for new terminal amid renovations

  Tuesday, May 12, 2015

  ​Port Columbus Airport in central Ohio has announced ambitious growth plans to help it stay ahead of the game when it comes to anticipated capacity problems in the next 15 years. The airport authority that runs Port Columbus expects to reach full capacity in its existing terminal, parking garages and road infrastructure by 2030 and is planning ahead to make sure it has the correct plan in place to ensure it can grow past this limit.

• Dublin Airport thriving on African hub

  Tuesday, April 21, 2015

  Dublin Airport is set to receive a major boost with the arrival of a new hub operation by Ethiopian Airlines next month. The carrier is one of Africa's largest and most successful, and was recently voted the sixth-most dependable airline in the world.

• Wichita’s first new terminal in 61 years is almost ready

  Tuesday, April 07, 2015

  ​Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower (formerly Mid-Continent) National Airport is gearing up to open its first new terminal in 61 years, with a series of special events to introduce the new structure to the public and special guests before the first plane pulls up next month.

• Hong Kong’s 3rd runway approved, but challenges remain

  Tuesday, March 24, 2015

  ​The much anticipated third runway system (3RS) for Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok has been given the green light for construction to go ahead by the Executive Council to the delight of the Airport Authority Hong Kong.

• New Orleans airport bounces back to pre‑Katrina levels

  Tuesday, March 10, 2015

  ​After a 10-year period of recovery, New Orleans Louis Armstrong International has finally surpassed its pre-Katrina levels of passengers handled, and in the past month has announced a wave of new airlines and destinations as it continues to grow.

• Design revealed for new Beijing airport hub

  Tuesday, February 24, 2015

  The first renders of the terminal building that will grace the new airport in Beijing, China, have been released as progress on the replacement for the world's second-busiest airport gathers pace. The curving, octopus-like structure has been designed by renowned Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, who was drafted in to work with French firm ADP Ingeniérie (ADPI) on the project.

• The future shape of Orlando International

  Tuesday, February 10, 2015

  Orlando International Airport is set to embark upon a massive $1.1 billion upgrade program that will allow it to handle growth, modernize its facilities and improve the experience for its passengers. The overriding outcome, it is hoped, will see Orlando able to surpass its current 35 million passengers per year and trigger a new period of growth at the airport that could justify a new terminal being built in the future. As Florida remains one of the most important leisure destinations in the country, it is vital that Orlando isn't superseded by in-state rival airports.

• UK airports set for a passenger duty showdown

  Tuesday, January 27, 2015

  The United Kingdom government is slowly relinquishing its hugely unpopular Air Passenger Duty (APD) and looks set for a showdown as airports in Scotland could be relieved of the tax.

• Delta remains at Dallas Love Field — for now

  Tuesday, January 13, 2015

  Delta Air Lines has been granted an 11th-hour reprieve to continue flights from Dallas Love Field. After its original deadline to halt flying approached, an unlikely savior has facilitated the stay.

• What does future hold for Toulouse Airport under new management?

  Tuesday, December 16, 2014

  ​The French government has sold a 49.99 percent share in state-owned Toulouse Blagnac Airport in a controversial bid to reduce the country's national debt. ​The sale of the airport, which is situated in southwest France and home to one of the principal Airbus assembly plants, came in at a reported 308 million euro.

• Denver International Airport pushing forward amid changes

  Wednesday, December 03, 2014

  Denver International Airport was expected to handle more than 1 million passengers over the Thanksgiving weekend. At the last count, it was ranked fifth in the country in terms of annual passengers, ahead of New York JFK and San Francisco, making it a significant facility in the nation's travel network.

• Infrastructure updates raise stature of Moscow’s airports

  Tuesday, November 18, 2014

  Moscow's three main airports have risen in stature in recent years, shedding the image of drab Soviet architecture and harnessing new terminal infrastructure that can match most major international airports elsewhere in the world.

• Is the future cargo-free at JFK Airport?

  Tuesday, November 04, 2014

  An audacious proposal by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stirred emotions in the area as he plans to shift John F. Kennedy Airport's cargo operations to another airport miles from the city. Stewart Airport, a former U.S. Air Force base some 60 miles north of JFK, has been chosen by Cuomo because of its capacity to expand and grow into a significant commercial airport.

• Blackpool closure another warning for UK airports

  Tuesday, October 21, 2014

  Blackpool Airport closed on the evening of Oct. 15, an hour after the final commercial flight left for the Isle of Man. It ends over 100 years of aviation on the site close to the once-mighty resort in northern England. But this is only the latest in a number of closures seen as U.K. airports struggle to remain open against high fees and low passenger numbers.

• O’Hare regains busiest airport crown

  Tuesday, October 07, 2014

  Amid all of the bad headlines surrounding Chicago airports last week following the sabotage and arson attack at the Aurora air traffic control center that crippled the airports in the area, a good news story has emerged for O'Hare, the largest of the city's airports.

• Why aviation in Dubai will keep growing

  Tuesday, September 23, 2014

  There's an aviation museum in Sharjah, close to Dubai, which is hidden in among the high rises. The museum is actually the site of the first airport in the United Arab Emirates and was once a remote desert outpost. Eight miles away, Dubai International Airport has just become the busiest international airport in the world.

• Putting the ‘I’ back in KCI

  Tuesday, September 09, 2014

  It's 4:10 p.m. and Air Canada's daily departure to Toronto has just left. Passport control can now go home since there are no more flights departing the country from Kansas City International today.

• Frankfurt Airport gains approval for next phase of expansion

  Tuesday, August 26, 2014

  Frankfurt Airport is one of the top three in Europe and has its sights firmly set on becoming the top hub on the continent. Its next stage of expansion, which is integral to this ambition, has recently been approved.

• Airports consider switch to a privatized TSA

  Friday, August 08, 2014

  Transportation Security Administration agents are usually one of the first faces people see at most U.S. airports. Since 9/11, TSA agents have been a source of controversy after gaping holes were found in airport security. However, a little-known fact is that airports could apply to opt out of using Transport Security Act agents and appoint private contractors instead.

• Relief planned for Mexico City with new airport

  Tuesday, July 29, 2014

  Mexico City is home to Latin America's second-busiest airport (after Sao Paulo Guarulhos), and it is about ready to burst as pressure mounts on infrastructure amid growing airline traffic. But plans are afoot to bring relief with a new airport capable of meeting the demands of the future.

• Sea-Tac to grow as a Delta hub

  Tuesday, July 15, 2014

  Delta Air Lines plans to grow in the competitive Northwest marketplace by significantly increasing its presence at Seattle-Tacoma Airport, and the airport is expected to reciprocate with expanded and improved facilities in anticipation for the increased number of flights.

• Scottish government plans to turn around Prestwick

  Tuesday, July 01, 2014

  ​Prestwick Airport near Glasgow, Scotland, is a unique operation. After years of decline and losses under its previous owners, the airport looks set to receive 10 million pounds in funding from the Scottish government to ensure its future.

• Charleston Yeager hoping for growth as first new flight takes off

  Tuesday, June 17, 2014

  Yeager Airport in West Virginia is hoping the start of a new airline route will mark a return to growth and more services in the near future. The airport serves the Charleston, the capital and largest city in West Virginia, with a population of around 220,000 in the metropolitan area.

• Birmingham Airport aiming to compete with London

  Tuesday, June 03, 2014

  At 6 a.m. on May 27, a Boeing 757 bound for the holiday island of Mallorca departed from the new extended runway at Birmingham Airport in the United Kingdom, marking a new era for the airport. With a population of over 1 million, Birmingham is Britain's second-largest city — behind London, which is only 115 miles away.

• Frontier targets Washington Dulles for mass expansion

  Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  ​Frontier Airlines has set its sights on Washington Dulles Airport for expansion by announcing 14 new routes from the airport. The airline features low-cost fares that will compete against the existing carriers at the airport, and encourage passengers to fly again after a period of decline.

• Hamad International opens after delays and shows great promise

  Tuesday, May 06, 2014

  Hamad International Airport finally opened its runways to flights on April 30 — more than a year after its first attempt at a soft launch was canceled. Built to eventually replace the aging and inadequate Doha International Airport, Hamad International welcomed its first flight.

• San Jose turns the corner to report consecutive growth

  Tuesday, April 22, 2014

  San Jose International Airport has reported over a year of consecutive growth in passenger numbers, and has been named the second-fastest-growing medium hub in the country by an industry publication.

• A closer look at Australia’s suffering airports

  Tuesday, April 08, 2014

  High demand and increasingly inadequate service are putting mounting pressure on Australia's key airports, with Sydney taking the "worst airport" title in a recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) annual report.

• San Francisco set for summer disruption as runways close

  Wednesday, March 26, 2014

  ​Travelers using San Francisco International Airport this summer are set to experience delays and frustration as runways are taken out of action for essential upgrades. Two of the airport's four runways will be closed during the busiest period of the year for the main Bay Area airport; but the works are part of a federally-mandated project that will improve safety.

• A great start to 2014 for Copenhagen airport

  Wednesday, March 12, 2014

  ​Denmark's principal aviation gateway has had a great start to 2014 and is set to continue with ambitious plans for growth over coming months and years — growth that will rely on more routes and continuing profits for the airport.

• A new reality and consolidation for Memphis airport

  Tuesday, February 25, 2014

  What do you do when your biggest passenger carrier decides to all but jump ship and leave you with a hole in operations? Memphis International Airport found itself with the same conundrum last year when Delta Air Lines decided to dehub its operation and vastly reduce the number of services.

• Changes in Dallas as Wright Amendment comes to an end

  Tuesday, February 11, 2014

  Oct. 13 will mark a change in aviation in the Dallas area as the 35-year-old Wright Amendment officially comes to an end, leaving downtown Love Field and its hometown airline, Southwest, free to pursue flights across the country.

• Russia’s ambition for Sochi and the Winter Olympics

  Tuesday, January 28, 2014

  Russia's southern Black Sea resort city of Sochi is about to take the world stage with the Winter Olympics opening Feb. 6. Athletes and spectators will descend upon the city in the thousands, and it is hoped the two-week event will spark a revival in the region to throw off the post-Soviet image still being endured. But what of the challenges being faced in developing the required infrastructure to cope with such ambition?

• Plans to open airline service to 2nd Atlanta airport delayed

  Tuesday, January 14, 2014

  ​Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta has been the busiest in the world in terms of passengers handled since 1998. Yet what makes it unusual is that it is one of the only airports in the busiest top 10 that does not have a direct competitor airport serving the population (and airlines) within the same metropolitan area.

• Abu Dhabi airport showing fast growth

  Thursday, January 02, 2014

  Abu Dhabi International Airport is seeing the results of investment as traffic growth has come in at over 12 percent in the previous year, and passenger numbers are up almost 10 percent in the last month. November's figures saw 1.33 million passengers use the airport, and almost 12,000 aircraft movements. This boost reinforces the airport's position within the busy Middle East against nearby competitors at Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain.

• What the merger between American and US Airways means for airports

  Friday, December 13, 2013

  ​The biggest aviation story of the month so far has been the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. It was made official Dec. 9 after American emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following its reorganization. The merger has been an on-again, off-again affair for many months, and now with its approval ​will create the world's largest airline. So what does it mean for airports?

• Out of the ashes: A Nairobi airport for the future

  Wednesday, December 04, 2013

  ​Four months ago, Kenya's busiest airport was struck by a fire that left its arrivals terminal in ruins. Now, out of the ashes, it hopes to rebuild its infrastructure and become the busiest airport in East Africa.

• Tampa expansion plans life extension to existing infrastructure

  Wednesday, November 20, 2013

  ​Tampa International Airport is planning to increase capacity without building any new terminals in a revised plan, following its stalled 2009 attempt to meet predicted growth demands.

• Awakening a future giant: Al Maktoum welcomes first passengers

  Tuesday, November 05, 2013

  History was made Oct. 29 when the first aircraft carrying passengers ​landed at Dubai's new Al Maktoum International Airport — projected to one day be the world's largest. The Wizz Air flight — an Airbus A320 arriving from Budapest — arrived in a week when the airport added two new airline carriers to its roster and finally opened its passenger terminal after a series of delays.

• Expansion of Helsinki Airport begins

  Tuesday, October 22, 2013

  Consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world by passengers and other organizations, Helsinki-Vantaa is beginning a phase of developments and upgrades that aim to retain this position and allow growth alongside its partner airlines.

• Ground broken on Southwest’s new international terminal at Houston

  Tuesday, October 08, 2013

  Southwest Airlines has marked the beginning of its expansion at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport by breaking ground on its new International Terminal. Hobby is primarily a domestic airport with no international airline service, but corporate and general aviation traffic does regularly arrive from across the border in Mexico. In 2011, Southwest Airlines officially expressed interest in changing this by proposing the introduction of international flights.

• Seeds of hope as Pittsburgh reopens concourse areas

  Tuesday, October 01, 2013

  Pittsburgh International Airport was once the largest hub of US Airways, handling almost 20 million passengers per year in 2000. Since those heady days, the airport has seen major decline and a fight to retain jobs and profits. But seeds of improvement are starting to show, with the airport announcing the reopening of two sections of its concourses. Nevertheless, passenger figures still pose challenges for the airport management.

• Etihad to establish Belgrade hub through Air Serbia

  Tuesday, September 17, 2013

  Belgrade Airport in Serbia is set to see its operations change as the country’s reimagined national carrier looks to establish its new network and fleet hub under the guidance of Etihad Airways.