Openings

Tidbits for Travelers: New link to SEA and new dining and discounts at MSP

Air Travel, Airport shops, Food, Holidays, Openings, Restaurants, Shopping, Transportation, , , ,

Great news for travelers heading to or from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) this holiday season:  The Airport Station of Sound Transit’s Link light rail system  between downtown and the airport will open at 10 a.m. on December 19, 2009.

SEA LIGHT RAIL

That means that instead of getting shuttled by bus between the airport and a light rail stop a mile or so away, passengers can now hop on and off the light rail right at the airport.

Well…not right at the airport: the airport station is in the airport garage and passengers must walk about a quarter mile to the terminal.  But at $2.75 from downtown vs. a $25 or $30 cab ride, it’s a great deal.  So travelers will probably be skipping along that walkway and not even notice the distance.

SANTA fruit label

Also, just in time for holiday travel, there are two new food offerings in the Lindbergh Terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). There’s now an Arby’s in the main food court and, more impressive, on Concourse F there’s a spinoff of Ike’s Food & Cocktails, a downtown Minneapolis favorite that’s already a hit in airport with a white-tablecloth branch in the airport mall.

Even better: MSP’s Jingle, Jingle Savings Days Coupon Book has discounts for these new spots and dozens of other shops and restaurants throughout the airport. Get a copy here.

New terminal at Key West International Airport

Openings,

Wednesday (Feb 25, 2009) was opening day for the new terminal at Key West International Airport (EYW), which is on Florida’s southernmost Key and just 90 miles from Cuba.

key-west-artist

The new terminal has second-level ticketing, a departure lounge, retail concessions, and a restaurant and tavern.  The old 1957 terminal won’t be torn down, just renovated and updated.

I haven’t toured the new terminal yet, but did have the pleasure of visiting the old one a while back and learning about the airport’s colorful history.

keywesthistory2a

During WWII, the Key West airstrip, which was known as Meacham Field, served as a dirigible base.  It became Key West International Airport after the war and for many years there were only two scheduled flights a day.

Still, the airport restaurant was a popular destination. Perhaps that’s because during the1960’s and 70’s the lounge featured a topless all-female band and the bar stayed open 24 hours a day.

An intriguing attraction right across from the  airport museum is the Fort East Martello Museum, which is home to a wide variety of intriguing historical items, including Robert the Haunted Doll, a straw-filled toy that many believe to be the embodiment of evil.

robert

Sick at the airport? New medical clinic at PHL

Health, Openings,

If you travel a lot, you’re bound to get sick. And if you’re sick while you’re traveling, then it’s a good chance you’ll be feeling ill while you’re at an airport.

Good thing, then, that drop-in medical clinics are popping up at more and more airports.  The newest one opened recently at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

PHL’s AeroClinic is in the A/B Link.  The clinic offers minor ill-care and well-care treatment and is staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who see patients in 15-minute increments, on a first-come, first-served basis.  Fees typically range from $25 – $100, depending on the service provided. Most major insurance plans are accepted.  There’s also an Aeroclinic at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

aeroclinic

Free wireless Internet access at new Indy airport

Art, Free Stuff, Openings, Wi-Fi,

The new Indianapolis International Airport (IND) opened earlier this week, complete with a new terminal building, new parking facilities, new interstate access via I-70, new air traffic control tower, and $4 worth of original artwork.


In addition to lots of new shopping and dining opportunities, the airport is also offering travelers free wireless Internet access. Hooray!!!

The terminal building is named in honor of World War I flying ace Col. Harvey Weir Cook, and soon there’ll be a permanent display honoring the Hoosier hero in the Baggage Claim area near the south garden. The display will feature personal memorabilia and other items, including Cook’s goggles, medals, letters, pilot licenses, photos, antique model planes, and more.

Terminal 2 at RDU now open for business

Art, Openings

Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s new Terminal 2 has officially opened for business.

The terminal’s art and architecture reflects North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region and includes 26 restaurants and shops, including 2nd Edition Book Sellers, änders Natural Soap Co., 42nd St. Oyster Bar, Carolina Ale House and Brookwood Farms BBQ, and Taste! A Southern Season.

Here’s a link to more information about RDU’s new Terminal 2, including details about artwork such as  Lydia Rubio’s aluminum and steel ‘tree,’ titled Gate of Earth, that begins outside and appears to be growing into the terminal.



“The artwork considers feelings associated with leaving or returning home or traveling into the world. Traditional North Carolina symbols – trees and birds – are combined with the words of North Carolina writer Thomas Wolfe. ”

Can’t wait to see it!

Open house at new Indianapolis International Airport

Art, Openings

Proving, once again, that it’s often lots more fun to just hang out at the airport than to actually fly anyplace, thousands of folks showed up this past weekend for the open house at the new Indianapolis International Airport.

In addition to all the new shops and eateries, the new terminal, just down the road from the old terminal, has lots of great new artwork.

For example:

This piece, called JetStream, was proposed by Rob Fisher, a well-known sculptor who died before he could construct the piece. Luckily his wife and daughter completed the piece, which is made of 120 “crafts” arranged in a pattern that resembles the way the jet stream curves around Indiana on a national weather map.


Breath (above) is a kinetic sculpture created by Indianapolis artist Greg Hull. The work consists of 11 hollow forms suspended at various levels that, when operating, will seem to inflate and deflate – or breathe.

Want to see more? The Indianapolis Star has a nice slide show on its Web Site.

Or you can just plan to a visit on your own. The airport opens for real – with arriving and departing flights – on November 12th, 2008.

New airport – new art

Art, Openings, ,

I wrote earlier about the North Terminal opening today (Sept 17, 2008) at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).

There’s been a lot written about the 35 shops and restaurants included in the new DTW terminal, but there hasn’t been much in the news about any new art.

Over at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), though, where they’re putting the finishing touches on their new terminal, art is definitely on the agenda.

Scheduled to open on November 11, the new Indianapolis International Airport (just down the road from the old one) will have $4 million worth of newly commissioned artwork.

Included: “whimsical and functional seating” in the baggage claim area by New York artist Ron Baron that has been “created by casting actual pieces of luggage in bronze and painting them to look like their originals… The slightly old-fashioned look of the suitcases and travelers recalls the joy and wonder that was associated with air travel in a bygone era.”

There’s lots more. Stay tuned.

Love the Layover: Detroit Metro Airport’s new North Terminal

Openings,

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW’s) officially opens its new North Terminal on Wednesday, September 17th (2008) with 35 brand new shops and restaurants, including a few “firsts” and special features.

Here’s a preview:

Look for the first airport locations for the Earl of Sandwich and Ruby Tuesday restaurant as well as the first branded Sports Illustrated retail store, which will have electronic kiosks for accessing sports information and sell branded merchandise of the area’s professional (Red Wings, Tigers, Pistons, Lions) and college (Michigan State University and the University of Michigan) teams.

Sports – and film – fans might also enjoy the Hockeytown Café, which will pay tribute to Detroit’s hockey history, and the Legends Bar, which will feature art glass panels that honor great heroes of Detroit such as Joe Lewis, and Gordie Howe – as well as Golden Era of Hollywood figures like Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo and more.

In addition to food courts, delis, news stand and gift shops, the new North Terminal will also have a Brookstone store, Zoom vending ‘stores’ stocked with electronic items and accessories, and a branch of XpresSpa, offering massages and reflexology services, as well as salon treatments such as manicures, pedicures, facials, and waxing.

Here’s a link to a readable version of the terminal map below.

Finishing touches at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) North terminal

Openings,

The new North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) will open for business on September. 17th, but airport officials are already showing it off.

Last Friday there was VIP Preview and Charity Benefit for about 1,000 guests with the proceeds going to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, First Step, The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Traveler’s Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit.

Then on Saturday, Sept. 6, the airport held an open house. More than 10,000 people showed up.

No doubt lots of those folks wanted to see the new terminal, but I bet some people came for the live entertainment, the games, and for the chance to win a plane load of gas in gas cards, a trip to Walt Disney World, round trip airline tickets and other prizes.

Right now the new North Terminal is still called simply the new North Terminal. Naming rights for the building have been up for auction – but it seems that so far there are no takers.

When it opens, the new North Terminal will be used by Air Canada, American Airlines, AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, USA 3000, and charter airlines. Northwest Airlines and SkyTeam(TM) partners AeroMexico, Air France, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, will remain in the McNamara Terminal.

Airlines cut flights; airports open new terminals

Economy, Openings, , ,

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 17th. Before airplanes start pulling up to the gates, the airport is hosting a free open house (Sept. 6th) 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.