Issue 1 2008

An interview with Ian Hutcheson, Director of Security at BAA

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Ian Hutcheson, Director of Security at BAA

An interview with BAA’s Director of Security, Ian Hutcheson. (more…)

Tagged with: BAA, Ian Hutcheson, Security

T2 – Transforming Dublin Airport

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Mark Foley, Director of Capital Programmes, Dublin Airport Authority

The €2 billion ‘Transforming Dublin Airport’ programme, which is now in its third year, is one of the largest construction projects in Ireland.

At the heart of that programme is a 75,000 sq metre new passenger terminal (T2) and a linked 24,000 sq metre new boarding gate facility, that will be known as Pier E. T2 is the biggest single project within ‘Transforming Dublin Airport’ and is also the highest profile element of the construction programme.

The core aim of Dublin Airport’s capital investment programme, which involves 120 separate construction projects, is to radically improve the passenger experience at the airport and address its current infrastructural problems.

Dublin Airport has been one of the fastest growing major airports in Europe in recent years. Passenger numbers have more than doubled over the past 10 years and last year more than 23 million people passed through Dublin Airport. (more…)

Tagged with: Airport profiles, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Ireland, Mark Foley

The A380 at Frankfurt Airport

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / René Steinhaus, Senior Sales Manager, Fraport AG

Q: Frankfurt will be one of the first airports in the world to be served regularly by the A380. What has this meant to you in terms of preparations?

We will have fifteen home-based A380s with Lufthansa and some more airlines are expected to operate the A380 into FRA, so we knew that there would be several flights per day and not just one or two. Operations are expected to increase in the early years. We knew from an early stage that we would have to start preparations. As you know, Frankfurt Airport was not initially a code F airport already, so we had to plan and prepare very early. The airport was ready in 2005 and while many other airports could not handle the A380 at that time, we were in a position to accept the aircraft. We had an ‘Upper Deck Bridge’ at this time and we were well prepared for the complete operation on the ground . In the case of regular A380 operations, we knew that Lufthansa originally planned to operate from Frankfurt in 2007. We therefore decided to prepare very early to be ready. Another aspect of our preparations involved Airbus themselves inviting us to join different working groups to help with the changes at a very early stage of the project. This was a unique point, as the aircraft deliverer was working with the airports to co-develop concepts on how to handle this aircraft. (more…)

Tagged with: A380, Frankfurt Airport, Fraport AG, Lufthansa, René Steinhaus

Enhancing aviation security – How TSA is using technology, innovation, and collaboration to redefine screening operations

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Mike Golden, Assistant Administrator for Operational Process and Technology/Chief Information Officer/Chief Technology Officer, FAA

The fundamental challenge of protecting passengers and transportation networks against an act of terrorism is a constantly changing, unpredictable threat environment. TSA knows that terrorists seek to exploit our weaknesses. We also know that terrorists attempt to adapt to the security measures we put into place. A static, fortress-like defense is not the answer.

While we apply what we learn from intelligence, from attacks of the past, and from other lessons learned around the world, we understand that terrorist activity is fundamentally not predictable in a statistical or actuarial way. We must, therefore, “anticipate the unexpected.” Our security approach must reflect the principles of flexibility, adaptability, and innovation. (more…)

Tagged with: Checkpoint security, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mike Golden, Transportation Security Integration Facility (TSIF), TSA

Detroit Metro Airport: Breaking new ground

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Lester Robinson, CEO, Wayne County Airport Authority

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) welcomes nearly 36 million passengers per year, making it the nation’s 11th busiest airport and the world’s 19th busiest in 2006 according to Airports Council International (ACI). Located approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of the major U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan, DTW is the primary international airport serving a metropolitan area of more than six million people.

DTW is also the largest hub and primary U.S. international gateway for Northwest Airlines, the world’s fifth busiest carrier, and the second-largest hub for ultra-low cost carrier Spirit Airlines. Together with 14 additional airlines – including five foreign flag carriers – Detroit’s airlines and their regional partners offer service to more than 160 non-stop destinations around the globe. (more…)

Tagged with: Airport profiles, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Lester Robinson, USA, Wayne County Airport Authority

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – America’s northern gateway

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Jeff Hamiel, Executive Director, Metropolitan Airports Commission

To some, Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” birthplace of the Mississippi River and a woodland paradise for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. To others, Minnesota is the cultural and financial king of the Upper Midwest, a mecca for music and the performing arts, and headquarters of 20 Fortune 500 corporations.

Regardless of your reason for traveling to Minnesota, if you are arriving by air, chances are you will fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. More than 35 million people travel through MSP every year, ranking the airport among the top 15 busiest in North America. Nearly every major U.S. airline operates at MSP, along with four headquartered in Minnesota: Northwest Airlines, which maintains a major hub at MSP; regional carrier Mesaba Airlines, which was recently acquired by Northwest; Sun Country Airlines and Champion Airlines.

Those airlines provide nonstop service to 122 domestic and 20 international markets. Direct flights between MSP and Amsterdam, London, Reykjavik and Tokyo provide a convenient link between America’s heartland and cities in Europe, Iceland and Asia. In April, Northwest Airlines will begin direct service to Paris from MSP as well. (more…)

Tagged with: Airport profiles, Jeff Hamiel, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, USA

Houston Airport’s flying high in new era of international expansion

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Rick.M Vacar, A.A.E, Director of Aviation, Houston Airport System

On 5 December 2007, the long–awaited Houston-Dubai flight connecting two giants of the energy industry arrived at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The new nonstop Emirates service is a perfect example of how airlines that until recently were not seen at Houston’s air terminals, are poised to take advantage of the city’s growing demand for passenger and cargo services.

The Houston-Dubai route promises to be a money-maker for Emirates and provides a much needed nonstop link to the Middle East for Houston’s vast number of oil and gas companies. Thanks to the growth of foreign carriers and the availability of aircraft like the Boeing 777-200LR, which can fly longer distances, routes like this are no longer just a penciled entry on an airline planner’s dream sheet.

Today a number of airlines are showing keen interest in availing themselves of Houston’s growing market opportunities. As international agreements continue to open markets and new long-range aircraft with the ability to bypass traditional entry points take flight, their numbers will continue to increase. (more…)

Tagged with: Airport profiles, Houston Airport, Rick.M Vacar, USA

Montréal-Trudeau Airport flying high

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / James Cherry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal

When the Airbus A380, the world’s largest jumbo jet, made its first trip to North America with passengers on board during a route verification flight from Paris last November, it was no surprise that its first stop – and only Canadian visit – was Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The airport has all the facilities required to accommodate the giant wide-body aircraft, including double-deck loading bridges and widened taxiways specially completed for the aircraft in 2006.

Montréal–Trudeau has been a world-class gateway for North America and Europe for more than 60 years and the arrival of the A380 only further underscores its growing status as an international transportation hub. Following a major modernisation and expansion program, the airport ranks among the worlds best in terms of connectivity, user-friendliness and low operating costs.

Just 20 minutes by road from the heart of Greater Montréal, Montréal-Trudeau is the main international airport in Canada east of the Great Lakes and close to huge population centres in the northeastern United States. It is also a major economic force in the Greater Montréal area (pop. 3.7 million), creating or maintaining more than 25,000 direct jobs at the airport and at companies operating on the airport site. (more…)

Tagged with: Aéroports de Montréal, Airport profiles, Canada, James Cherry, Montréal-Trudeau Airport

Copenhagen’s new tower: advanced solutions to exceptional challenges

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Morten Dambæk, Director General, Naviair

When in 1716, the Danish Empress Katharina drove up to the top of the Round Tower at Copenhagen’s Trinitatis church in a horse-drawn carriage with her husband Peter the Great, she set a certain precedent in remarkable tower transport operations. But 291 years later the tradition has been maintained, when one of the world’s most advanced airport ATC towers came into operation on time, on budget and with all systems working as specified.

The new Copenhagen/Kastrup tower came on-line at 1am on 29 December 2007 as part of a 50-programme upgrade of Denmark’s entire air traffic management (ATM) system called DATMAS, the Danish Air Traffic Management System. As well as the Copenhagen/Kastrup tower, DATMAS incorporates a new en-route and approach control centre and new tower/approach systems for Billund and Roskilde airports.

Traffic is growing steadily at Kastrup; despite the cancellation of many hundreds of SAS Dash Q400 flights in November as a result of landing gear problems. The airport handled 21,409,526 passengers in 2007, an increase of 2.5% over 2006. The old control tower was built in 1971 and at just 36 metres was struggling to give controllers the full 360 degree view of the airfield; a complete view of traffic on runway 22L, for example, was not always possible. (more…)

Tagged with: Air traffic control (ATC), Copenhagen/Kastrup, Denmark, Morten Dambæk, Naviair

Extending self-service

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Philippe Bruyère, Programme Director, Simplifying Business, IATA

A world in which a passenger has more choice and can control more aspects of air travel is IATA’s vision for its Fast Travel programme. The sight of a passenger entering information into a kiosk is no longer exclusive to airports in Europe or North America. Airports and airlines all over the world are now offering self check-in kiosks and the number keeps growing. In the last three years, the number of airports offering self check-in has grown from 10 to 85. Additionally, the concept of allowing passengers to manage the travel process has evolved considerably in the last two decades to include online booking, selecting seats, modifying reservations and checking in.

Passengers have more options than ever before. They can book online and check-in through the internet, using a kiosk or a mobile device. While the solutions available may have subtle differences from airline to airline the premise remains the same: save time and improve customer service whilst reducing costs. (more…)

Tagged with: International Air Transport Association (IATA), Philippe Bruyère, Ticketing

A380 Touchdown

Issue 1 2008 / 4 February 2008 / Richard Piper

On 9th – 10th November A380 touchdown brought together delegates from around the world to discuss the entry into service of the Airbus A380 super-jumbo.

The event was hosted by Dubai International Airport and the venue was Le Méridien Hotel. It is a five star hotel with excellent conference facilities and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff who helped with the smooth running of A380 touchdown.

The conference was sponsored by Cavotec, a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative mobile power supply solutions for the airport industry and DAE Airports, the global airport development and operations division of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE).

The event was opened with a keynote welcome from HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group. (more…)

Tagged with: A380, Conferences & events, Richard Piper