Hundreds of airports around the world use Twitter as one of their tools to share news and updates with the public.
The social media site is in flux (to say the least) at the moment. But for now, it’s still a great way to find out at a glance what some of our favorite airports are up to.
And, as part of its 60th anniversary year, Dulles International Airport (IAD), reminded us of the mobile lounges that were used to transport passengers between the terminals and their planes.
Introducing our newest, fun gadget in the terminal 👓💦
Tomorrow starting at 10 to 11 am, we’ll give free cleanings to the first 5 passengers who say “hey” to our friends at @opticwash.
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) (@AUStinAirport) November 7, 2022
Take a calming pause with our latest exhibition, “PRESENT” by Ian Patrick O’Connor. Using large-format film photography, the artist creates images using the urban environment, color, & space, to evoke an overall sense of well-being. #ArtsatMIA 📰: https://t.co/GKEr50GHk4pic.twitter.com/SBVldQUy5M
Holly Jolly Jetway is back! 🎅 ✈️ Don’t miss your chance to see Santa’s special stop at IND on Saturday, November 26. Gather the whole family for an afternoon of games, crafts, and festive fun. Registration opens on November 11. #HollyJollyJetway#SantasINDTownpic.twitter.com/CmGAM0lvhh
— Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (@INDairport) November 7, 2022
Last weekend, hundreds of pilots and aviation enthusiasts converged on Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) for the 2022 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Regional Fly-in. The annual two-day event brought in 170 aircraft! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/sssE5L8nJA
#ICYMI Coke and the Detroit Red Wings teamed up to bring smiles to the faces of DTW customers and staff. Two former Red Wings players, Drew Miller and Jason Woolley, talked to fans and even signed notebooks and hockey pucks. Thank you @Coke & @DetroitRedWings! pic.twitter.com/zYPc3dqeMT
— Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (@PHXSkyHarbor) November 7, 2022
The first of its kind! We introduced the Mobile Lounge to the world when we opened in 1962. Back then, they were used to transport passengers between the Main Terminal and their aircraft which were parked out on a jet ramp. #Dulles60pic.twitter.com/UpIPPGLWYq
Examples include the Spot Saver program at Seattle-Tacoma Internation Airport (SEA), the LAX Fast Lane at Los Angeles International Aiport, the EWR Virtual Line at Newark Liberty International Airport, MCO Reserve at Orlando International Airport, PHX Reserve at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and JFK T4 Reserve at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
There are also a few other checkpoint reservation programs operating at airports around the country.
Some are limited to certain airlines, specific checkpoints, or concourses, and may be offered during limited hours. Be sure to read the rules and directions on your airport’s website.
Miami International Airport (MIA) just joined the list
MIA Reserve is a six-month pilot program for passengers flying from MIA airport on American Airlines.
During the trial, passengers may reserve a checkpoint screening time, for free at MIA TSA Checkpoint 4 from 5 am to 7 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Reservations are limited and can be scheduled up to 72 hours before a flight.
Citing a shortage of security workers in the coming months, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) will once again reduce the number of passengers allowed in the airport.
This time the airport is reducing the number of daily passengers by 18%, through at least October 31. In a statement released last week, Schiphol officials said they expect to continue applying limits on the number of daily passengers until at least the end of the year.
That’s bad news for passengers and for airlines.
AMS had set a limit of 67,500 departing passengers per day during September and 69,500 during October.
The new maximum will be 54,500 per day for the rest of September and 57,000 per day in October.
London’s Heathrow Airport and several others also have passenger capacity limits in place at least through the end of October.
Barnes spent a year photographing and collecting specimens from over 150 plants growing in the Sharker Heritage Society’s herb garden, which is on the site of the first Shaker settlement in the United States.
The herb garden, and historic Shaker ‘gift’ or ‘spirit’ drawings, are the inspiration for the images and prints Barnes created during her year-long project going on view at Albany International Airport on July 16. There’s also a companion site-specific installation at the Shaker Heritage Society, which is a short walk from the airport.
At the Shaker Heritage Society’s 1856 Drying House, Barnes’ installation includes temporary murals on the exterior of the historic brick building. The images are stark blue and white silhouettes of herbs in bloom climbing the outside of the red brick walls. Inside, there are prints on fabric and hanging bunches of herbs from the garden. The murals and the installation will remain on view through summer 2023.
For the installation at Albany International Airport, Barnes made eight cyanotype paintings on paper with plants collected from the Shaker herb garden. (Cyanotype is an old photographic printing process that creates dark greenish-blue prints.)
These paintings are reproduced on aluminum panels that will be on view for three to five years in the pedestrian corridor linking the new south parking garage with the ticketing area.
On July 16, ALB Airport will also debut a six-month-long exhibition, called Planting Utopia, in the post-security Concourse A Gallery with artwork, preparatory sketches, and a documentary video about the collaboration.
(All images courtesy Albany International Airport)
New England Air Museum adjacent to Bradley International Airport (BDL)
May 18 is International Museum Day, which gives us an excuse to talk about some of the great museums in and adjacent to airports around the country.
Having a museum or museum program in an airport just makes so much sense. Millions of people pass through airports each year. Many passengers have plenty of downtime before their flights. And art or history exhibits in airports can connect passengers with a place, inspire them, educate them, or create those sought after moments of suprise and delight.
Here are a handful of airport museums and museum programs to look for on your next trip. Let us know if we missed your favorite.
Phoenix Airport Museum
The Phoenix Airport Museum at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is one of the oldest and largest airport art program in the country. You’ll find permanent artwork and temporary exhibitions throughout the sprawling airport facilities, including in the rental car center and at the Sky Train stations.
Did you know the Phoenix Airport Museum has FREE postcards available at most exhibition spaces? 📬
— Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (@PHXSkyHarbor) May 18, 2022
SFO Museum
The SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is accredited by the American Alliance of Museum (AAM). In addition to permanent public art and more than a dozen temporary exhibitions at a time, the museum maintains a video arts program , student art programs, and photography galleries.
Julia Clark (1880–1912) at the controls of a Curtiss biplane c. 1912. Courtesy SFO Museum
Wondering why the Aviation Museum & Library remain closed? Our recent blog post shares exciting details of the Museum’s renovation, as well as behind-the-scenes images of work to deinstall and protect the objects within. Read more: https://t.co/inXay9LBsM#BehindTheScenespic.twitter.com/oHhUuji7oO
The free Mitchell Gallery of Flight at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is located pre-security and open 24 hours a day. Exhibits include airplane models, aviation paintings, propellers, a scale model of the Milwaukee airport terminal as it looked in 1941, and sections dedicated to famous Wisconsinites in aviation history such as astronaut James Lovell and General Billy Mitchell, known as ‘the father of the U.S. Air Force.
You’ll find aviation-themed history exhibits and full-fledged aviation museums in and adjacent to many other airports too.
(Kristi Bettendorf, Lignum vitae, Guaiacum sanctum, and Honeybee, Apis mellifera, Courtesy of the artist.)
Pollinators art exhibition at MIA celebrates South Florida plants
Pollinators, the newest art exhibition at Miami International Airport, features watercolor and mixed media works that give a close-up view of plants from South Florida and their animal and insect pollinators.
Focusing on these complex natural relationships, members of the Tropical Botanic Artists Collective illustrated birds, butterflies, moths, bees, wasps – even aquatic zooplankton – with the plants they pollinate. The artists in Pollinators worked in collaboration with Biscayne National Park in Florida.
(Donna Torres, Wild Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, and Western or European Honeybee, Apis mellifera, 2018, Courtesy of the artist.)
Find the Pollinators exhibition on Concourse E pre-security area on the arrivals level near Door 11.
