Airports Prepare for Summer Travel
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org, (202) 293-4537
Megan Miller, mmiller@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2008)— Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) joined the Air Transport Association (ATA) today to discuss summer travel and offer suggestions for airline passengers in case of delays due to weather or other unexpected circumstances.
“Airports understand that summer travel can be stressful for passengers,” said Greg Principato, ACI-NA President. “In many regions of the country, typical weather such as thunderstorms or high winds can cause problems with air travel. While we appreciate the work to prevent or reduce delays, passengers should know that airports are well prepared to assist in the event of extended delays.”
These efforts build on the work begun last fall when Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport and ACI-NA, along with airline partners and federal agencies, met to discuss improving customer service when passengers are delayed or stranded. Most recently, in January, ACI-NA hosted a workshop in Washington, D.C. to help airports draft critical plans that will lead to better communications and coordination.
Working together, airports and airlines are taking action to meet passenger needs.
“Unfortunately, uncontrollable factors such as bad weather can disrupt the best airline efforts to keep flights operating on time,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “Airlines, airports and government are doing all they can to avoid lengthy delays when possible and to provide a pleasant travel experience for all.”
Some of the ways that airports will be ready to assist both business and leisure travelers when dealing with unpredictable situations during summer travel in 2008 include the following:
- Most airports insure that at least one of their food vendors stays open 24 hours so passengers can purchase food and beverages, sundries and other things.
- If a number of passengers are stranded and have to spend the night, airports may provide services including cots, sleeping mats, blankets and inflatable pillows.
- Some major airports have an ambassador program of volunteers who help provide information or just a helping hand if passengers are stranded.
These are just some of the services being discussed as part of the work of the “DOT National Task Force to Develop Model Contingency Plans to Deal with Lengthy Airline On-Board Ground Delays”, on which ACI-NA and four airports participate.
ACI-NA Passenger Services Survey
Additionally, airports have been creatively working with their concessionaires to offer practical as well as entertaining options for all passengers at the airport. ACI-NA just completed a survey of the passenger services offered at 88 airports which represent almost two-thirds of North American traffic.
In addition to a wider variety of restaurant food, gift shops and bookstores, many airports are stepping up to offer services for adults and children alike.
For children and families
Almost half of those airports ACI-NA surveyed have children’s play areas (42); 22 percent have game rooms (19) and 11 percent (10) have video game stations. Twenty-six percent offer DVD rentals (23).
Families can also enjoy major local art displays at 65, or 74 percent, of responding airports. Twenty-five airports feature live music.
Fitness and spa services
For adults looking to pamper themselves while waiting for a flight, 34 percent (30) of the airports surveyed provide massage services. Seventeen percent (15) have nail salons; and 12 airports, or 14 percent, offer spa services. Eleven percent (11) have hair salons. Twenty airports provide a “walking track” and four have fitness centers.
Wi-Fi
About 45 percent (40) of the airports surveyed have free wi-fi and 55 percent (48) require a fee for wi-fi services. Half of the airports surveyed have business centers; 45 percent (40) have electrical charging stations and 48 percent (42) have fax machines.
New and different
In the area of new and different, four airports now offer pet hotels. More than one-fourth (24) of those airports surveyed also feature rocking chairs. Twenty-nine offer flowers for sale. Seven airports have health clinics and one has a dental clinic.
View the list of airport passenger services here.
Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. More than 300 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.
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