Cherry blossom festival

World’s Busiest Airport? Plus: Travel Tidbits

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Back on Top

Airports Council International (ACI) released global traffic numbers and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) once again comes out on top as the world’s busiest airport.

The top five world’s busiest airports include Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD), and Dubai International Airport (DXB), in that order. The Dubai airport also topped the list as the world’s busiest international airport.

SFO Airport’s Cherry Blossom Festival

The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is underway in San Francisco’s Japantown and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is celebrating as well.

Through April 18, passengers traveling through SFO can snap selfies at the Cherry Blossom backdrop and enjoy performances on the stage in Terminal 3, by the food court.

The line-up is described here in detail, but includes OH-IN Taiko (drums) on Friday, April 7 from 10 am to 2 pm; a koto concert by Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto on Wednesday, April 12 from 10 am to 2 pm; and the Ito Yosakoi dance team on Friday, April 14 from noon to 3:30 pm.

DC-area airports celebrate Cherry Blossom season

The Cherry Blossom watch is on in Washington, D.C., with the National Park Service predicting April 1 as the peak viewing time for cherry blossoms in nation’s capital.

D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival continues through April 14, but travelers arriving or departing at the two DC-area airports, Reagan National and Dulles International, get a sneak peek, thanks to a cherry blossom pop-up at Dulles International and Japanese music and calligraphy at Reagan National airports.

At Dulles International (at the intersection of Concourses A and B) travelers will find a whimsical cherry blossom pop-up park with a 15-foot, replica cherry blossom tree, park benches or bistro tables.

The park will remain on site through May, with scheduled events through April 8.

Each Friday through April 12, travelers flying out of Reagan National will be able to hear performances by Japanese Koto musicians. A master calligrapher (to inscribe luggage tags) and a sketch artist will be on site as well.

Both airports have partnered with the official National Cherry Blossom Festival to present the exclusive 2019 National Cherry Blossom canvas tote bag. Any purchase of $100 or more at any two retail or dining locations will receive the tote as a gift with purchase. (Look for signs telling you how to redeem).

Find more details about the Cherry Blossom Festival events, including a discount parking offer, at DCA and IAD airports here.

Washington, DC-area airports celebrate Cherry Blossom Festival

(Washington Dulles International Airport, photo by J. David Buerk)

The month-long National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway in the Washington, D.C. area and even the airports are getting into the spirit with cherry trees in bloom and buildings lit in pink at night.

Pink lighting is illuminating the iconic main terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport and the parking garage stairwells at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Inside the airports, there are cherry blossom-themed promotions and entertainment scheduled through April 16.

There will be Cherry Blossom stilt walkers strolling through airport halls pre-and post-security from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays (March 24, March 31, April 7 and April 14).

Photo courtesy Sidney Woods

Entertainment on tap includes souvenir photos, paint sessions with a Japanese Sumi-E artist (black ink painting) and performances by Cellist Peter Kibbe at Dulles International on Thursday, April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and at Reagan National on Friday, April 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Several restaurants will be offering pink-themed menu selections and drinks through April 17 and shoppers who spend more than $100 (pre-tax) on food or retail can turn those receipts in for a free National Cherry Blossom coaster set.

Social media followers of the airport Facebook pages can also win free ticket to official Cherry Blossom Festival events. Details here.

 

 

 

Cherry Blossom Fest at Dulles and National Airports

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway in Washington, D.C.

DC CHERRY TREES

The National Park Service horticulturists have been monitoring the blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin for peak bud opening and they say right about now is a good time to pay a visit.

It’s also a good time to visit Washington’s Dulles or Reagan National Airports.

DC PINK NATIONAL AIRPORT

They are featuring Cherry Blossom-themed cocktails, food, banners and displays, including cherry blossom shirts and handbags, cherry blossom pink martinis, donuts with cherry blossom pink frosting and cherry blossom nail designs.

Need more pink? Reagan National Airport has pink lighting shining through the glass block walls in the stairwells in the parking garages and banners out front.

Cherry blosssom time at Dulles & Washington National airports

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom through April 27, 2012 and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from Tokyo, Japan to Washington, DC.

There are five weeks worth of exhibitions, programs, celebrations and, of course, opportunities to marvel at the pretty trees in the nation’s capital, but here at StuckatTheAirport.com we’re tickled (pink) to learn that both Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports are participating as well.

This week, Reagan Washington National Airport accepted the gift of 100 cherry trees from Narita International Airport Corporation in Japan and hosted a tree planting ceremony near Terminal A.  Through March, parking garages at DCA will also be lit pink.

Over at Dulles International, the iconic terminal is also bathed in pink lighting to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

(Airport photos courtesy Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)