There's some interesting news bits so far this week. Some good news if you live in Rapid City; hotel renovations for those in Hartford; A flight delay in Austin where passengers did exercise their rights to get off the plane; Delays for JetBlue's transcontinental routes due to costs; Rodents found in Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Airport plans concourse expansion in early 2009
Full story at: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/05/06/news/local/doc481e39c11786f296113954.txt
Rapid City, SC. Rapid City Regional Airport: Rapid City Regional Airport has completed the preliminary design phase of an estimated $4 million concourse expansion that would create additional space for security screenings and holding areas for passengers waiting to board flights. Other airport projects on the horizon include building a new fire station to replace one currently in the old terminal building, relocating an electrical vault that controls all of the airport's lights, expanding the taxiway and apron, and new baggage screening devices. The airport also may remodel the restaurant to make it a more pleasant place to wait.
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Connecticut's Leading Hospitality Firms Join Forces at Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport
Full story at: http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/574152.html
Hartford, Bradly International Airport: Konover Hotel Corporation and Waterford Group today announced that they have partnered on the Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. Substantial renovations are planned for the Sheraton hotel, including an exterior facelift, renovations to the lobby, reception area, pool and fitness area, ballrooms, food and beverage outlets, garage, club lounge and refurbishment to all 237 guest rooms. The hotel will remain open during renovations, which is targeted for completion in 2009. The 237-room full-service hotel is the only hotel located within the airport complex. On-site amenities of the 10-story hotel include a Concierge Floor and lounge, an indoor swimming pool and complete exercise facility, high speed Internet access, fifteen meeting rooms, a full-service restaurant, lounge, Starbucks Cafe and grand ballroom to accommodate meeting and banquet functions up to 400 people. The hotel offers several unique packages, including a stay, park, and fly package. The Sheraton Hotel at Bradley International Airport has maintained its high rating by being a Sheraton Select Hotel for overall guest satisfaction and Starwood Best in Class for all North American Sheraton Airport Hotels.
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Passengers upset after ABIA delay
Full story at: http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/050608kvueairlinedelay-bm.d54cb90a.html?npc
Austin, TX. Austin Bergstrom International Airport: It may have been a case of an airline passenger bill of rights working in reverse -- when a one hour flight became a four hour ordeal at Austin Bergstrom International Airport Tuesday. The flight was scheduled to leave ABIA at 7:30 a.m. for a short hop to Dallas. But before the plane even pulled away from the gate the pilot warned passengers that storms in Dallas would cause a delay -- at that point 10 people got off. After waiting more than an hour the tension continued to build on the plane, and several passengers demanded to get off. The remaining 120 passengers arrived at DFW at 12:14 -- nearly four hours late. American Airlines officials said the pilot did the right thing by going back and letting those who wanted to leave off the plane.
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JetBlue to delay launch of LAX service
Full story at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/la-fi-jetblue6-2008may06,0,7611268.story?track=rss
JetBlue Airways is expected to announce today that because of high fuel costs it is suspending indefinitely its first transcontinental flights from Los Angeles International Airport. The start of additional service at Burbank and Long Beach on May 21 is on track. As part of its West Coast expansion, JetBlue recently added a flight from Long Beach to Austin, Texas, and on May 21 will begin service between Burbank and Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Jose, and San Diego and Seattle, among others.
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Report: Dozens and dozens of mice, rats live at O'Hare airport
Full story at: http://pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/06/news/doc481fc84879f25246804022.txt
Chicago, IL. O'Hare International Airport: A WGN-TV investigation that aired Monday night uncovered an infestation of mice and rats throughout O'Hare's Terminal One -even among food service and preparation areas.
Remember, if you eXpect delaYs, you can beat them!
Happy travels -
-Gus
