Openings

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.