West United States

 

At San Diego International Airport, the Park ‘N Fly organization has acquired ownership and management of the existing Park & Ride lot serving the airport. The existing space count of 750 remains the same. The lot is two miles from the airport terminal off Interstate 5 at the Airport Exit…San Francisco International has moved to use a private screening company to replace TSA personnel. Under a competitively awarded contract valued at $314 million covering three years, Covenant Aviation Security will take over passenger, checkpoint and checked baggage security operations at SFO. TSA’s Federal Security Director at SFO will remain responsible for overseeing security standards and managing contractor performance.

 

Midwest United States

 

Everything’s up to date in Kansas City—especially airport car rental taxes. Kansas City International holds the singular distinction of having the highest taxes in the land. A report by Travelocity says there’s a 63 percent difference between the base rental rate and the one flyers pay when local entities ladle on taxes. It’s kind of ironic, in that MCI is noted for low airfare by virtue of the presence of Southwest Airlines…No more circling Detroit Metro’s roadways waiting for colleagues who’ve just arrived. There’s a new cell phone lot. It’s located on inbound Rogell, across from the north terminal construction site. To find it, follow the signs to Smith Terminal arrivals. Just past the point where the upper departures level veers to the right you’ll see the lane on the right.

 

Southwest United States

 

New eateries at, or coming to, a couple of mid-size Southwestern airfields: Tulsa and El Paso. At TUL, there’s a new Starbucks near the security checkpoint—and a trio of new restaurants in the post-security food court. There you’ll find Quiznos, Freckles, and Mazzio’s. Freckles serves up frozen custard, and Mazzio’s is a Tulsa tradition. By the summer of 2007 El Paso will sport a new Starbucks in the main terminal, and another one of those local traditions: Carlos & Mickey’s. It’s Tex-Mex. Try Flaco’s Enchiladas, or perhaps Tampiquena Steak.

 

South United States

 

The cell phone lot phenomenon just spread to New Orleans. MSY’s lot can hold 350 vehicles. Park free for up to an hour while waiting for your colleague or friend to arrive. That way, you don’t have to endlessly circle the terminal area or raise the ire of police while sitting curbside. The lot is located three minutes from the terminal, on Airline Drive at the corner of Airline and Hollendey Street…Who has the healthiest airport food in the country? The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) says it’s Orlando. 88 percent of the restaurants at MCO have at least one vegetarian entrée that’s low in fat, high in fiber, and cholesterol-free…Somebody’s using the free Wi-Fi at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International. The airport said wireless usage soared 65 percent during the first nine months of 2006. People logged in 388,927 times.

 

Northeast United States

 

It’s somewhat less of a pain to park at Reagan Washington National now that there’s valet service. You can make reservations in advance (703-417-1234) and then drive to the front of venerable Terminal A. An attendant takes it from there, and a shuttle bus takes you to your terminal. Parking, however, doesn’t come at a pittance: $40 the first day, $30 the second day, $30 the third day, and then $25 each successive day. This is, after all, D.C.…Things are shaping up nicely at JetBlues’s emerging Terminal 5 at New York JFK. Now that the final steel beam has been laid, and the project “topped out,” look for the 26-gate facility to open in early 2009. It will allow the low-fare carrier to field as many as 250 flights per day from JFK. With the project comes a 1,500-space parking garage, and a connection to the historic Eero Saarinen terminal, the place TWA made famous in its heyday.

 

Worldwide

 

A couple of new premium perks for flyers frequenting the Middle East. Etihad Airways has opened an exclusive check-in facility for Diamond and Pearl Zone passengers at Abu Dhabi International. In Qatar, that nation’s flag carrier dedicates a whole terminal to First and Business Class flyers. The $90 million affair sports spa treatment rooms replete with Jacuzzis and saunas. Also available in Qatar Airways’ new facility: conference rooms, a nursery and a clinic…It won’t open until August 2007, but when it does a second new runway at Osaka Kansai International will significantly boost KIX’s capacity, positioning it to become a legitimate Asian hub. Kansai, of course, is built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay. It has but one runway, an 11,500-foot affair. The second runway—a 13,000-foot strip—is being built on a second island.