As 2009 winds down, the U.S. Senate’s health care slug fest continues to heat up.  And given all the grousing on both sides of the aisle, it is clear the Grinch won’t have time to steal Christmas this year as he’s too busy lurking about the Senate Chamber.  The Senate’s been busy, too, so busy in fact that they are on track to tie or break the record, set at the beginning of World War I for most consecutive days in session.  And they haven’t been working your average 9 to 5 work day.

Saturday at 1 a.m., in the early hours of what became the biggest December snow storm on record in D.C., the Senate took a procedural vote on the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill.  Six hours later they came back to pass the bill as snow fell fast and furious, at times nearly obscuring the Capitol from view.

And it turned out to be a good thing that the Senate bill clerks got in a little practice last week reading aloud – three hours’ worth of Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) 700 plus page single payer amendment.  It served them well this weekend when they spent more than seven hours reading the entire 383 page health care amendment offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Monday, just after 1 a.m., the Senate voted 60 to 40 to invoke cloture on the Reid amendment, which contains all the changes made/deals arranged to get 60 votes on final passage of the health care bill.  This vote set the Senate on track for 90 more hours of debate and three more votes – with final passage slated for 7 p.m. Christmas Eve, unless the procedural games are halted.

Of course, Senate passage of a health care reform package doesn’t put the issue to bed.  A joint House-Senate conference committee will need to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the bill.  Once an agreement is reached by the conferees, it will be sent back to both chambers for a final vote.  So the health care debate will continue to be the focus for Congress as we move into the early months of 2010.

The Airport Mall in the Lindbergh Terminal at MSP.

At this time each year, airports are going the extra customer-service mile by reaching out and connecting with their communities. As a result of the airports’ efforts, passengers can enjoy a little extra holiday cheer, and give a little back in return.  Whether it is local choirs making appearances at airports across North America to sing holiday favorites, or seeing the big jolly fellow in the red suit, airports go that extra mile to offer time to reflect on the season.

In Jacksonville, local school groups will show off their musical talents for all airport passengers to enjoy. Also, a Christmas tree contest invites travelers to vote on their favorite tree with a $1 donation that will benefit Dreams Come True.

And in Washington, D.C., the National Christmas Tree will pale in comparison to the trees at MWAA’s Reagan National and Dulles. Students from the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland will make their own ornaments creating a “Winter Wonderland” that even the most harried of passengers will stop and appreciate.

Serving passengers is not just a holiday trend for airports; airports serve passengers throughout the year. ACI-NA recently surveyed airports for its 2009 Concessions Benchmarking survey:

• Airports know their passengers: The majority of airports surveyed have updated passenger data in the last 2 years.
• 2/3 (66%) of the airports conduct customer satisfaction studies.
• Half of the airports (51%) require minimum staffing levels for concessions.
• Airports establish standards to maintain quality concession programs. The top three concession monitoring programs:
  - Airports must approve changes in service hours
  - Airports conduct facility inspections
  - Airports conduct routine meetings with concessionaires

Airports are not just depots for travelers to just sit and wait, they offer passengers an opportunity to optimize their time by shopping for those holiday gifts while waiting for their next flight. Airports are the faces of their communities and sources of philanthropy and optimism. Check back with Centerlines Blog for more examples of how airports are on the ‘nice list’.

For pictures of holiday events and specials at airports throughout North America, check out ACI-NA’s Facebook page.
-Brett McAllister, CFO