Last week we revealed Delta’s plans for JFK with mixed emotions. We were a little sad to hear about the scheduled departure of Terminal 3, aka Pan Am’s Worldport, to the big airport terminal in the sky, but we were also excited that we don’t need to use an umbrella inside the terminal—yes, it’s that bad. ]]>
We warned you six months ago that New York-JFK Airport's old flying saucer-looking Terminal 3 could be torn down this year, and it's been officially announced that this will be the case, but it will take a tad bit longer. It will be bulldozed in about three years to make way for a parking lot, as Delta focuses their efforts next door on Terminal 4.
On one hand, the loss of Terminal 3 is something sad, since it once was a gem of architectural design and a home to the jet set as Pan Am's WorldPort. If you were heading from New York to one of Pan Am's exotic world destinations, then this place was the official start of your trip; as such, it's a building with memories for many. ]]>
It looks like San Jose and the Silicon Valley will soon be stealing business away from SFO just up the road on the 101. The totally redone Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport opens to the traveling public this week, and the new place is definitely ready to show off its technology pedigree to both visitors and locals.
The place has a futuristic design that screams cutting-edge, but the real goodies are buried within the new Terminal B and the remodeled Terminal A. There are 200-foot-long skylights along the main concourse of Terminal B, and if you want to sit down and take in the view you’ll have plenty of juice thanks to electrical outlets easily accessible from each and every seat right in the armrests. The place cost around $1.3 billion so it’s pretty clear that they spared no expense. ]]>
We doubt that the renovations to the San Jose International Airport are what finally helped Microsoft and Yahoo come together in search engine marriage, but it can’t hurt that the face of Silicon Valley is getting a little nip and tuck. Those in hardhats have been busy renovating older parts of the airports and building some totally new facilities. All this in hopes of bringing the airport squarely into the 21st century.
The first six gates in the new Terminal B Concourse opened last month and Southwest was quick to claim them as their own. There’s still plenty of work to be done here, and the whole thing won’t be completed until 2010, but at least travelers will get a sneak peak into what’s to come. ]]>
Oakland Airport's Southwest terminal during its renovation of 2006.
No surprise here but with the travel industry taking a hard hit this year, airports across the U.S. are having to put their massive renovations plans on hold or in some caese, just settle for just quickie face-lifts.
At Oakland International Airport in California, for example, a $1 billion plan to build a third terminal was shelved last summer after ExpressJet withdrew from the market, Aloha Airlines went out of business and other carriers, especially Southwest Airlines, cut back on flights. Passenger traffic fell by 30 percent, creating a ripple effect at the airport’s restaurants and car rental operations, which also generate cash. Food and beverage revenue dropped by 25 percent; car rental revenue by 20 percent.
Instead of building a new terminal, Oakland is doing a $200 million facelift of an existing terminal.
On the bright side(?), having less passengers allows the construction crews to get their work done faster. A very minor consolation to the airport indeed.
About a dozen other U.S. airports have cancelled or delayed their improvements but Kansas City International Airport is doing something different. The airport is taking advantage of the drop in construction costs to pursue its airport improvement projects which will cost about $161 million. Guess that's what happens when someone calls you a Hot Destination for 2009.
Thank God, JetBlue did their T5 overhaul before the economy crapped out!
Related Stories:
· Oakland Airport Under Construction [Jaunted]
· Airport Projects Delayed or Canceled [NY Times]]]>