Airport News.

For more airport news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/order_formsubs.htm Jul 3, 2006

Britain's Office of Fair Trading, is to study the UK airports market with a view to establishing whether the current structure works well for consumers. It says that the decision to proceed with the study reflects the importance of airports to consumers and businesses within the UK. In a statement it pointed out that nearly two-thirds of UK air passengers begin or end their journey at BAA Plc airports. Within the London area this rises to nine out of ten passengers, and in Scotland over eight out of ten air passengers flying from the privatized former national airport organization. At this stage the OFT has not reached a decision on whether a reference for a more in-depth investigation by the Competition Commission is warranted but it hopes to publish the results of the study by the end of 2006. http://www.oft.gov.uk Jun 30, 2006

Airbus

House aviation chair wants to stop federal funding for A380 airport upgrades. A senior US lawmaker is calling for a ban on federal funding for A380-related upgrades at US airports until a domestic airline orders a passenger version of the next-generation aircraft.Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, said he plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit using federal airport grants on any A380-related construction project. Jun 27, 2006

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Dutch legislators, after more than a decade of debate, decided that Schiphol Group can be privatizad. The Upper House of Dutch Parliament yesterday ratified an Aviation Act amendment regarding the operation of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, allowing the state to sell 49% of its holding in the group, which operates AMS. "Schiphol Group's Supervisory Board, Board of Management and Central Works Council are pleased that parliamentary discussions regarding legislation that is required to be passed to privatize the company have been finalized," the group said in a statement. "Clarity from Dutch Parliament has finally been provided for both the company and its employees on the company's future." The Lower House ratified the relevant legislation in June 2005. Jun 28, 2006

Amsterdam Schiphol

Board of Airline Representatives in the Netherlands sent a letter to the Dutch Upper House voicing its concern over the pending privatization of Amsterdam Schiphol, de Volkskrant reported. The 78 BARIN members operating at AMS oppose the privatization, claiming the airport will behave as a "monopolist," keeping prices and tariffs artifically high. BARIN also argues the legislation, on which the Upper House is scheduled to vote today, does not offer adequate protection to airlines as it does not foresee a maximum price cap or minimum requirements for service levels. The letter also warns that higher tariffs will affect Schiphol's hub position negatively and notes that AMS has lost its rank as Europe's fourth-largest airport to Madrid Barajas. They cite the example of Lufthansa, which recently announced it would exchange "expensive Schiphol" for Dusseldorf for its feed of passenger traffic from the Netherlands. Schiphol's shares are fully owned by the state sector, with the Dutch government holding 75.8%, the city of Amsterdam 21.8% and Rotterdam 2.4%. Management is a longstanding advocate of privatization and wants to raise capital publicly in order to finance international expansion. The government is willing to sell 49% of its share, but opposition is strong. Earlier this month, the City Council of Amsterdam opposed the privatization. Jun 27, 2006

Austin-Bergstrom

Bolstering Austin-Bergstrom's position as an airport awash with good eateries is this: Mangia Pizza is primed to open between Gates 12 and 13 at AUS. Underscoring Bergstrom's reputation as a decent place to shop, this item: Celebration of Golf is slated to open between Gates 6 and 7 later this summer. For those of you to whom golf is a passion - not a game - know that Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones products will be sold here. Jun 30, 2006

Baltimore/Washington

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, the Beltway's premier low-fare launch pad. Roadway traffic on the upper level will be split into two parts, akin to the way traffic flows around the airport's Concourse A/B facility. There will be a dedicated lane for BWI busses, and one for all other vehicles. Here's what flyers should immediately notice: The outer curb of the new median is being opened to permit easier passenger drop-off. The inner curb is a work zone. The big picture envisions a terminal roadway system that will double the amount of curbside space for passenger pick-up and drop-off. Jun 30, 2006

Berlin Airports

Berlin Airports, which manages the city's three airports, finalized a [euro]350 million ($439.7 million) bridge loan with an international consortium of banks headed by Commerzbank in another step toward transforming Berlin Schoenefeld into the larger and more modern Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. The consortium also includes Helaba, KfW/IPEX and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. as co-arrangers. Other members are the investment banks in the states of Berlin and Brandenburg. Jun 30, 2006

Delhi airport

Delhi airport is to have a major facelift due to get under way next January with the completion date of March 2010 already announced. We are reminded Delhi is to be the home of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a first time for the city. New Delhi hosted the initial Asian Games (which this year takes place in December in Doha) in 1951. The opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics will take place at the 70,000 capacity Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which uniquely within the complex also houses a 3,000 capacity indoor air conditioned bowling rink. http://www.delhiairport.com Jun 30, 2006

Edmonton International

Edmonton International, the beneficiary of a 21st century gusher, has become Canada's fastest-growing airport and expects to handle 5-5.5 million passengers this year, a number it did not expect to reach until 2015, according to VP-Marketing Peter McCart. The airport, located about 20 mi. south of Alberta's capital city, handled 4.5 million passengers in 2005, up 10.5% over 2004, and averaged 15% growth through the first five months of this year. Edmonton has 17 gates with loading bridges and 17 ground loading positions. With runways 10,200 ft. and 11,000 ft. in length, the 24-hr. airport is capable of handling any size of aircraft including the An-124. It is introducing common-use check-in and gates and expects to have all the technology online by mid-2007. Construction of a 184-room hotel is set to begin later this year with opening set for 2008. Jun 28, 2006

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin reached agreement with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to create a multimillion-dollar Airport of the Future testbed in Daytona, Fla. Judy Marks, president of Lockheed's Transportation and Security Solutions division, said Friday in Washington that the venture will involve other companies as well as FAA, which will provide half the funding. The 50/50 public-private project seeks to explore how technology can be deployed at airports to increase the efficiency of airline operations, she said. Funding is included in the FY07 FAA budget proposal. "We want to look at an airport holistically [to create an environment where] all systems are connected and all parties have the same megadata," Marks explained. The project is to be conducted in four stages, each lasting 6-9 months. The first will cover airport surface technology, including perimeter security. The second will focus on runway operations, the third on airspace capacity and the fourth on improving an airport's performance in all weather conditions. Jun 26, 2006

London BAA

London's BAA is now implementing a new set of hand baggage rules which are expected to be in place in all its seven airports by the end of July. British Airways has already introduced similar rules which follow a DfT recommendation (see last week's issue) advising all UK airlines and airport operators to enforce the International Air Transport Association (IATA) cabin baggage standards. Passengers will be asked to check in all bags that do not fit in the gauges provided at check-in. Additional gauges will also be placed at the entrance to the security queue ticket presentation to ensure passengers face as minimal disruption as possible. The IATA cabin baggage standards state that hand baggage should be no more than 56cm (22in) long, 45cm (18in) wide and 25cm (10in) deep. http://www.baa.com Jun 30, 2006

London Gatwick

London's Gatwick Express, which is a proper nonstop express railway, and is still waiting for a decision from the Department for Transport regarding its future, has won the Customer Service Innovation of the Year at the Railway Industry Innovation Awards ceremony. Called "Leading Lights" it is a highly original and creative program which uses the guiding principles of being positively helpful, friendly and polite to provide an even better service to customers. Gatwick Express has over the last three years put in considerable resources in developing "Leading Lights" into an effective training tool and typically employs actors to simulate authentic and challenging work situations and environments. Reality training it is called. http://www.gatwickexpress.com Jun 30, 2006

London Heathrow

London's Heathrow is to develop a rapid transport link between the car parks and the terminal areas. Advanced Transport Systems Ltd (ATS) has confirmed that that it has won a BAA Plc contract for its innovative ULTra Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system. The agreement between BAA and ATS also includes an investment of [pounds sterling]7.5million in the company in return for 25% of the equity. The ULTra system was developed to provide a more effective and lower cost solution to the worldwide problems of urban transport. It uses automatically controlled vehicles, which can fit a maximum of 4 passengers, traveling on their own guideway network to provide an on demand and nonstop service from any station to any other on the network. The prototype ULTra system has been under development since 1999, with Government support from the Department for Transport, the Department of Trade and Industry, NESTA, and the EC. The prototype system was given consent by HM Rail Inspectorate to carry passengers in 2003. http://www.atsltd.co.uk Jun 30, 2006

Los Angeles

In a pilot program just started at LAX, the airport has introduced valet parking in the central terminal area. The valet lot is opposite Terminal 4, Terminal 5 and the Tom Bradley International terminal. Daily rate is $38, broken down as $30 for the parking fee and $8 for the valet service. Arriving customers can call ahead upon landing and the vehicles will be waiting for pick-up. Fees are paid directly to the attendant eliminating the usual delay in exiting the parking structure and waiting in line to pay fees. If the system gets used, it could be extended to other terminals, LAX officials say. Jun 30, 2006

McCarran International Las Vegas

Travelers rated McCarran International in Las Vegas top in overall satisfaction among large airports. The airport ranked high in the areas of check-in and security checks as well as terminal facilities. John F. Kennedy International in New York and Philadelphia International tied for second in the survey. LaGuardia International in New York ranked first among medium-sized airports, followed by Chicago Midway International. Among small airports, Dallas' Love Field and Houston Hobby International tied for first, followed by John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif. Jun 29, 2006