Industry News

lambert st. louis int’l airport — begins $50 million in modernization projects resulting in the largest interior renovation in its history. Construction will begin in the fall of 2010. The two-year plan is the latest phase in the Airport Experience Program, focused on improving passenger services and airport operations in Lambert’s Terminal 1.

• Lambert-St. Louis and the St. Louis Airport Commission also sign off on a development agreement that gives Aero St. Louis, LLC (subsidiary of Aeroterm) the right to develop 76 acres of airport property with prime airfield access. The property is the former manufacturing and office complex of McDonnell Douglas.  Aero’s investment could total $40 million if all phases of the redevelopment plan are fully delivered.

lawa — Los Angeles World Airports appoints Jess Romo, airport manager at LA/Ontario Int’l Airport, to also manage Van Nuys Airport. He replaces Selena Birk, who moves to lead the Regulatory Compliance and Standards Division at LAX.

lee county (FL) port authority — and the Lee County Alliance for the Arts unveil an exhibit entitled “Early African-American Pioneers of Lee County” at Southwest Florida Int’l Airport.

massport — Massachusetts Port Authority approves more than $1 billion to fund 379 projects as part of its fiscal year 2010 – 2014 comprehensive financial plan of capital improvements. The five-year plan, amended annually, is expected to sustain the equivalent of 1,244 full-time construction jobs. It will fund various initiatives, including construction of a consolidated rental car facility and security enhancements.Capital program totals $737 million; Customer Facility Charges will be used to partially finance the rental car facility.

mayo aviation — of Denver is expanding its charter fleet into the Northeast U.S. with the acquisition of Portland, ME operator CharterOps, Inc.

metropolitan nashville airport authority — starts construction of a new 900,000-sq. ft. consolidated rental car facility, or CONRAC, which will accommodate 2,400 units and feature up to 21,000 square feet of covered walkways.

moody’s investors service — says U.S. airports face risks that outweigh their growth potential and has a negative rating outlook for the sector for the next 12 to 18 months. Moody’s said U.S. airport credit remains in a tenuous position as solid growth is not expected to take hold soon.

nata — National Air Transportation Association names Gary Driggers, long-time executive at Midcoast Aviation, this year’s recipient for the William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award. NATA’s Award for Distinguished Service is being awarded to the Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation.

• NATA also reports that Washington state legislators are considering imposing a tax increase on aircraft owners and operators via House Bill 3176, which would would impose a 0.5 percent excise tax “for the purpose of using any aircraft in the state.” The new excise tax would replace the current fixed fee for aircraft registration.

oag — reports global airline capacity for February 2010 showed positive growth, marking the sixth consecutive month in which overall airline capacity has shown growth, with 272.7 million available seats, an increase of 5 percent over February 2009.

propel aviation sales & services, llc — at Kendall-Tamiami (FL) Airport is named a Caravan Authorized Sales Representative for the states of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

schindler — of Switzerland is awarded a $40 million contract to supply 70 escalators, elevators, and moving walks for Los Angeles Int’l Airport.

TSA — Transportation Security Administration reports it is in favor of scaling back a proposal that would include general aviation into the the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP). TSA is working on a revised plan with industry and expects to have it completed this fall, and will hold the first gathering of a general aviation security working group March 9-10.

united airlines — increases service from Harrisburg Int’l Airport, with six daily nonstop flights between MDT and Chicago O’Hare. 

us airways — returns to Melbourne (FL) Int’l Airport with the the first of 21 weekly flights from the airline’s hub in Charlotte, N.C.