U.S. and Cuba Sign Arrangement Restoring Scheduled Air Service

On Feb. 16, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, Cuban Minister of Transportation Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez and President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), Ministry of Transportation Colonel Alfredo Cordero Puig signed an arrangement that provides for the re-establishment of scheduled air services between the United States and Cuba. Immediately following the signing, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) invited U.S. air carriers to apply for an allocation of the new opportunities to provide scheduled passenger and cargo flights.
“We are excited to announce the availability of new scheduled air service opportunities to Cuba for U.S. carriers, shippers and the traveling public, and we will conduct this proceeding in a manner designed to maximize public benefits,” said Foxx.
The new arrangement provides each country with the opportunity to operate up to 20 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and Havana. The arrangement also provides each country with the opportunity to operate up to 10 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and each of Cuba’s nine other international airports, providing U.S. carriers with the opportunity to operate up to a total of 110 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and Cuba. The arrangement does not limit charter services, meaning that no DOT allocation procedures are needed and charter flights can continue as before.

Westfield Unveils New Customer Journey at LAX Terminal 2

Westfield invested $78.3 million into the terminal and transformed nearly 76,000 square feet, including more than 15,000 square feet of new dining and retail. The upgrade brings together a vibrant design, local restaurants and signature retail, creating a more holistic customer journey.
“L.A. is the center of international travel, and this spectacular new terminal will help us broaden our global reach even further,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “With the help of our partners, we have turned this terminal into a beautiful new space — and an expression of our commitment to building the world-class airport our residents and visitors expect and deserve.”
The new Terminal 2 projects $41 million in annual sales – a 34 percent increase. The number of permanent employees in the terminal is projected to increase by 76 percent.
Westfield designed and managed common area improvements, from the floor to the ceiling, and relocated and redesigned an uninspiring, inefficient staircase to become the exciting focal point of the terminal and activated new revenue-generating space.
The 20-month redevelopment at Terminal 2 was the terminal’s first upgrade in nearly 30 years. Westfield’s construction team managed hundreds of projects to keep the 24-hour terminal open, maintaining customer service and flight operations during the process. The terrazzo floor, for example, took 10 months and 15 phases to complete all on its own.

Alaska Airlines…and Seattle fashion designer Luly Yang partnered to redesign uniforms for more than 12,000 airline employees.

American Airlines...named Ralph Lopez vice president – Miami Hub (MIA) Operations. 

Airport Consultants Council (ACC)...launched a new member recognition program.

The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)...recognized 97 airports with an ANTN Digicast Excellence in Airport Training award for training completed in 2015.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport...saw record passenger traffic in 2015, growing 7 percent year-over-year to 23.8 million people.

CA+…introduced its new Property and Utilities Management Module.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport… welcomed 44.9 million travelers in 2015, setting an all-time high passenger record for the sixth consecutive year.

Delta Air Lines…employees received their portion of the company's $1.5 billion profit sharing earned in 2015 – the largest payout in the history of corporate profit sharing programs.

Denver International Airport (DEN)...generated more than $335.7 million in gross concessions revenue in 2015, marking the third consecutive year of record-setting sales.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)...saw passenger traffic increased by nearly 1 million travelers in 2015.

Faith Group LLC...opened a new office on Jan. 4 in Atlanta.

Gensler…named Kirsten Fordyce-Wheeler its aviation practice area design director.

Gerald R. Ford International (GFIA) Airport…has set a new all-time passenger record, 2,550,193 passengers flew in and out of GFIA, an increase of 9.2 percent.

GLO...announced new seasonal non-stop air service between Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.

Green Motion Car Rental…will operate at San Diego International Airport’s new rental car center.

The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA)...selected the Runway 10R-28L project at O'Hare International Airport as its Project of the Year.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI)…announced Peter Gargiulo will serve as vice chair of the IATA Passenger Facilitation Working Group.

L.J. Aviation…completed construction on its new hangar.

MAC Air Group of Maine Aviation Corp... joined the Avfuel network.

Million Air Dallas...added a 2015 Legacy 500 to its Charter/Management fleet.

The Naples Airport Authority...named Chris Rozansky executive director. 

National Airlines...is doubling its service from Orlando to Puerto Rico.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)...broke ground on the start of construction of a new USO Welcome Center.

Oshkosh Airport Products LLC...delivered 17 Oshkosh Striker Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles to airports operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Del Pacífico, S.A.B. de C.V (GAP) in Mexico.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport...saw passenger activity increased by more than 4 percent in 2015.

Qantas...reported its best ever financial performance in 2015, pre-tax profit was A$921 million for the six months to Dec. 31, more than double its A$367-million result the previous first half. 

Region of Waterloo International Airport...reported its busiest year on record in 2015, 153,963 passengers traveled through the airport’s Terminal Building, a 5.8 percent increase over 2014. 

Rectrix Aviation...named Chris Mundy general manager of its Aerodrome Center at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

San Francisco International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower…has been honored as the top engineering project in the State of California in 2015 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Sheltair…held opening ceremonies for the $2 million renovation of the 10,000-square-foot general aviation U.S. Customs entryway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Silver Air...signed under management a Dassault Falcon 2000 located at San Jose International Airport (SJC).

Swiss International Airlines...made its first Boeing 777-300ER transatlantic commercial flight to the U.S. 

TAG Aviation Europe…named Daniel Christe CEO.

TAM Airlines...and Walt Disney World launched the Plane of Dreams.

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport…chose The Design Solution to design the reconfiguration of the airport’s terminal in Halls A and B.

The U.S. Department of Transportation...reported 20,170 consumer complaints about the airline industry in 2015, up from 15,539 in 2014. 

Woodgate Aviation…is joining the Avfuel network operating out of its new hangar and office complex at Belfast International Airport.

WOW air...will offer year-round flight service from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to Stockholm (VST) via Iceland (KEF).