airport observation deck Archives - Stuck at the Airport

The “5 Things We Love About…” series on StuckatTheAirport.com celebrates features and amenities at airports around the country and the world.

Today we’re landing at New York’s Albany International Airport (ALB), once known as “the aerial crossroads of the Northeast.”

ALB: 5 Things We Love About Albany International Airport

1. The Reading Lounge at ALB

ALB is home to the Mario & Matilda Cuomo Pavilion, which is a partnership with the New York State Writers Institute.

The pavilion is an 800-square foot glass-enclosed space on the first floor of the terminal. The space is designed to be a reading lounge where visitors can select a free book by authors featured by the Institute, download an author interview, and learn about the Institute’s programs and events.

2. The Art at Albany International Airport

Albany International Airport’s Art & Culture Program presents a robust array of offerings in exhibition spaces throughout the terminal.

In addition to Concourse Galleries and an exhibition case program that features information and artifacts from museums in the region, ALB airport has a dedicated 2,500-square gallery located pre-security on the third floor of the airport.

As a nice bonus, artwork in the curated gallery shows is often for sale.

3. The Observation Area at ALB

Albany International Airport has a pre-security observation area on the third level of the terminal. Part of the airport art gallery, the observation area offers views of the airport runways, the wings of the terminal, and, on a clear day, the southern Adirondack Mountains.

4. Flowers at ALB

Albany International Airport makes a point to have fresh flowers throughout the terminal. And lots of them. Starting at the curbside.

5. Shiny new facilities at ALB

Albany International Airport recently completed a multi-million dollar capital redevelopment project. Passengers will benefit from the new air traffic control tower, a new 230,000-square-foot terminal, and a new 1000-space parking garage with a pedestrian bridge to the terminal.

Did we miss one of your favorite features or amenities at Albany International Airport (ALB)?

If so, leave a note in the comments section below.

And be sure to take a look at the other airports in the “5 Things We Love About…” series. We’re adding a few new airports each week.

Greetings from Vienna International Airport

On Friday afternoon Vienna Airport spokesman Peter Kleemann was kind enough to offer a tour of portions of Vienna International Airport to a group of journalists in town for the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board Meeting.

Among the highlights of the tour was a stop at the Visitor’s Center, where an outdoor terrace offered wall panels with explanations of what goes on at an airport and, on this day, foggy views of the airfield.

We also stopped at the Terminal Operation Center, where banks of video screens offer an at-a-glance view of the traffic at dozens of spots inside the airport.

The operators in this room are charged with keeping an eye on the flow of passengers throughout the airport. If lines get long or there’s a back-up of any kind, they send word to open another access line or make sure back-up is on the way.

Wonder what kind of help arrives if someone pushes this button…