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Sure airports need to find new ways to boost income; but please don’t take down the art.

According to this article in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution by Moni Basu, officials at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) are considering taking down an iconic piece of the airport’s eclectic art collection to make room for advertising.

(Source: the artist’s Web site)

“Four Walls for Atlanta Hartsfield Airport,” a neon work by Stephen Antonakos, was one of 14 public artworks specifically commissioned for the airport. Now, one airport official told the paper, proposals are being considered to use that space for “advertising that showcases the city or is in some way educational, such as ads that promote energy conservation.”

It will be sad if the neon piece gets replaced by ads. But there will still be plenty of art to see at ATL. The airport owns and displays about 275 other works of art and has discussed creating “a mini-museum about Atlanta in the walkway between Concourses A and B and a rain forest display between Concourses B and C.”

Categories: Art
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The New York Times has a great slideshow celebrating the earliest days of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Built on “six square miles of swampy sand, part of it the site of a once-fashionable golf course…” in its first few years the airport welcomed everyone from Gregory Peck and Pope Paul VI to, of course, the Beatles!’

(Photo: The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey)

There are more photos here – including Jimmy Durante and Sammy Davis Jr.

Categories: Celebrities, History
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Goods news for gadget-toting travelers:

There are now 50 free 4-outlet charging stations scattered through Terminals A, B, and C at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

The charging stations are courtesy of Samsung Mobile, which sponsors similar power charging stations at five other major airports (so far): John F. Kennedy International Airport (54), Los Angeles International Airport (51) LaGuardia International Airport (12), Orlando International Airport (18), and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (22). In addition, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has eight Samsung Mobile Travel Centers, which also offer couches and other amenities.

Power charging stations (both free and pay-per-charge), desks with working power outlets, and banks of seats with built in outlets seem to be popping up at more and more airports these days. But don’t leave your extension cord home just yet: during high traffic times a spot at the charging station is harder to get than a seat in the sports bar during a playoff game.

Categories: Cell Phones, Power Outlets
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Three new terminals and at least one fresh new airport are set to open in the United States this fall. With all the news about airlines cutting flights and eliminating service, let’s hope someone will get to enjoy these new facilities.

The new 26-gate North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) opens for business on September 17^th. Before airplanes start pulling up to the gates, the airport is hosting a free open house (Sept. 6^th) with music, dance, games, a scavenger hunt, and prizes that include “a plane load of gas in gas cards,” airline tickets, and a trip to Disney world. The day before that party (Sept 5) there will be a charity preview event inside the terminal to benefit five local non-profit groups. On tap: dinner, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Quartet and live entertainment.

(DTW North Terminal: courtesy DTW)

Opening elsewhere this fall:

Oct 1: JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK);

Oct 26: Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU); and

Nov 11, the new Indianapolis International Airport (IND), just down the road from the old one.

Categories: Economy, Openings
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Alaska is turning 50 in 2009 and Alaska Airlines is getting ready to celebrate by inviting kids who live in the 49th state to enter artwork for a “Paint the Plane” contest.

Students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade (including public, private and home schools) can enter. The student with the winning design, as well as a finalist from each grade level, will get a trip for four to Disneyland Resort.

The contest deadline is October 18th. But even if you’re not a kid in Alaska, you might still have fun downloading one of the three blank plane templates playing around with a design.

Categories: Contests, Free Stuff, Kids
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