News in Brief

On Sept. 11, the Atlantic City International Airport was the first airport in New Jersey to use a state-of-the-art undercarriage vehicle screening system that captures a video image of cars, trucks and buses as they enter airport property. The purpose of the new technology is to check for explosives or contraband that could be stashed under the vehicle. Law enforcement officers from the Egg Harbor Township Police Department and the State Police, who share law enforcement duties at the airport, were trained to use the equipment. The Egg Harbor Township Police purchased the undercarriage screening equipment with $22,500 in grant funding from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security. The grant was administered through the Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management.

Continental Airlines, along with Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Governor Ted Strickland, have announced a plan by Continental to grow its capacity at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) by 40 percent over a two-year period. Continental will initially operate 50 new flights, principally on regional jets, and add 20 new, nonstop destinations by next summer. By early 2009, Continental plans to add more than a dozen additional flights, principally on mainline aircraft, further strengthening Cleveland’s role in Continental’s global route network. The project is expected to create an estimated 700 jobs. Many of the regional jet aircraft used for the additional service will be reallocated from Newark. Beginning in 2009, a number of additional mainline aircraft will also be allocated to support the growth. The announcement is the result of a partnership among Continental, the City of Cleveland and the State of Ohio.

Partnerships/Acquisitions/Contracts

Siemens Airport Logistics was recently awarded a $61.9 million contract from Swinerton Builders of Los Angeles. The contract is for the construction of a 100 percent in-line baggage screening system in three north terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as a part of the LAX North Project. Overall project completion is scheduled for 2010. The LAX North Project is a $192 million project that involves public area refurbishment in Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and the construction of the baggage screening system for automatic explosives screening of all outbound checked passenger baggage in the three terminals. The systems transport bags from the lobby ticket counters via conveyors, automatically screens them for explosives and then sorts them by flight number for specific destinations.

Menzies Aviation and IHD, specialists for PRM (Passengers with Reduced Mobility), have signed a contract to work together to address the upcoming PRM tenders which form part of new EU legislation. Regulation 1107/2006, effective July 2008, focuses on improving quality levels, providing a seamless service and working with the airport operators as steering/managing bodies. Menzies Aviation will work together with IHD on efficient manpower planning, quality management and optimal customer service in the airport environment.

Gate Gourmet, an independent airline caterer and logistics provider, announces it will expand the scope of its business into airline ground handling and support through the acquisition of a leading U.K.-based group operating under the Fernley and International Aviation Services (IAS) brands. The acquired companies offer a comprehensive range of aviation special services including aircraft cabin cleaning, aircraft washing and deicing; security activities such as baggage screening and document verification; airport executive lounges and passenger services such as wheelchair and unaccompanied minor assistance. “This is a major step forward in the evolution of Gate Gourmet and it ensures that we continue as the innovation leader in the airline catering value chain,” said David Siegel, chairman and CEO. “This acquisition enables us to capitalize on our existing airport and ramp presence to provide high quality non-catering service at a competitive cost, both above and below the wing.” Along with Fernley and IAS, the group also includes Specialist Airport Services, European Airport Services and Airfield Services Ltd. The companies operate primarily in the U.K., including at London’s Heathrow, Gatwick Stansted and Luton airports, as well as Manchester, Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Liverpool, East Midlands, Biggin Hill and Glasgow. European Airport Services also operates in Amsterdam; Brussels, and several other regional airports in France and the Netherlands.