West United States 

Salt Lake City International has become the first airport in the United States to offer deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers free access to two videophone booths equipped with HSIC. One booth is in each of SLC’s two baggage claim areas. Made by Sorenson Communications, the videophone booths connect the user to a nationwide network of American Sign Language interpreters who facilitate conversations for them with hearing individuals by way of a videophone appliance and the Sorenson Video Relay Service®. To use the service, a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual enters a private booth equipped with a Sorenson VP-200 videophone connected to both a television and high-speed Internet. He enters the phone number of the hearing individual being called. Through the Sorenson Video Relay Service, a qualified ASL interpreter appears on the screen, connects the individuals, and relays the conversation between them. The hearing party receiving the call uses a standard phone line. There are no charges for the use of the videophone booth or the Video Relay Service (VRS) call...Mexicana Airlines is inaugurating bus service from outlining Fresno communities (from Modesto north to Delano south) to Fresno Yosemite International Airport. This will make it much easier for people who live in these remote areas to get to the airport. The cost of the bus ticket will be included in the airline ticket..  

Midwest United States  

Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) recently reopened its upgraded Red Shuttle Lot. The cost: $5 per day. Not bad at all, especially considering Columbus’s size. CMH just finished fitting the Red Shuttle Lot with emergency call stations at each of its 16 shuttle stops. Shuttle routes have been redesigned too, to make for faster, more efficient service to and from the airport terminal. Finally, the lot sports 400 more spaces than before. The total number of low-cost slots is now 2,782…So many books, so little time. Borders has opened a couple of bookstores at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Both are in the new McNamara Terminal.

Southwest United States

In this case, dogs really may be man’s best friend. Amidst all the high-tech explosives gear at Bush Houston Intercontinental, don’t be surprised to see Tomy rooting around. The 3-year-old Belgian Malinois and his human handler, Officer A. Parker, join Bak and his master, Officer Carlos Perez, at Continental’s prime hub.

Northeast United States

There’s a new 1,600-space parking garage serving American Airlines’ Terminal 8 at New York JFK, but it’s going to cost you $30 per day to park there…Another wine bar is on its way to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. Look for Vino Volo to open a second outlet in December.

Worldwide

Frequent flyers crave uniformity. If people are going to impose a measure, just make sure they do it uniformly so nobody’s confused—especially when it comes to security. That’s why new European Union regulations regarding carry-ons are so significant. From now on, you’ll have to pack liquids in a one-liter, see-through plastic bag before you can board with them. Each of those liquids—toothpaste, mouthwash, creams and the like—have to come in containers that are no more than 100 ml (3.5 fluid ounces). Now, there is—at least in theory—a harmonization of carry-on rules in the European Union, United States and Canada. One more thing they don’t tell you about. Make sure that the plastic bag you stick your toiletries in is separate from your carry-on. When clearing security, don’t stick it inside the bag, as some folks do. That just slows things down...Airport switch in Moscow. Austrian Airlines is set to move from Sheremetyevo to Domodedovo in February. There, it joins Star Alliance buddies bmi, Swiss, Thai and Singapore.