Mineta San José International Airport

Rebrand for San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport

Airports, ,

Soda companies do it. Toothpaste companies do it. Car companies do it.

And airports do it too.

Since 2001 you have known it as Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC).

But, thanks to a rebrand, from now on the San José airport will be going by a slightly different name: San José Mineta International Airport.

The name change may seem slight. But it is part of the airport’s goal to become more of a key player in the Bay Area and strengthen the airport’s geographical association with San José.

In addition to the new name, the rebrand includes a new logo, a new color scheme, and a new tagline: Fly Simple.

SJC’s first incorporated the name of US Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta in 2001. And, while many airports are named for people, San José was one of the few airports in the world to be named after a living person. Secretary Mineta passed away on May 3, 2022.

We’re fine with the name change. Just as long as the airport doesn’t mess with the cool public art. And with the charming topiary bear at the entrance.

San Jose Airport "Space Observer" sculpture
Space Observer – by  Bjorn Schulke

At the Airport: Name SEA’s Robot + Play at SJC + See Nature at IND

Art, , , , , ,

Help Name SEA’s Food Delivering Robot

A few months back, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) joined the list of airports offering mobile food ordering. The OrderSEA program works with the Grab and At Your Gate programs, offering pick-up and gate delivery options from more than 16 airport food outlets.

As a bonus, some travelers who order gate delivery find the At Your Gate delivery person accompanied by a Gita-branded robot like the one at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) named Nom Nom.

Now that it has been on site a while, SEA wants the Gita robot to be part of the permanen team. So they’re asking the public to help choose a name.

Have any ideas?

New Play Area at Mineta San Jose Int’l Airport

There’s a new kid’s play space at Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC).

Called Zoom Zone and located in Terminal B between Gates 24 and 25, the 600-square foot space was created with support from Zoom (Zoom Video Communications Inc.) and has an aviation theme.

Features of the Zoom Zone include a Pin Screen, a Bird Climber, a Zoom Plane, and a Kinectic Butterfly. There’s also an Alphabet Airplane that invites kids to open airplane window shades and discover objects representing destinations.

 

Nature Photos at IND Airport

Camouflaged Spider by Ronda Hamm

 Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is hosting a new photography exhibition titled Indiana, Naturally through December 2021 in both the Ticketing Hall and in cases in Concourses A and B.
The exhibition is part of a larger, ongoing cultural collaboration between the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Here are a few of the images. See more here.

Blue Sky Coreopsis by Jeanette Jeanette Jaskula
Zalman Wainhaus, Somewhere Silent

Art and Magic at SJC and DAL Airports

Art, , , , , , , ,
Artists: Humans Since 1982 Photographer: John Janca

Fresh art at Mineta San Jose International Airport

Take a look at this cool new permanent artwork installed at California’s Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)

Installed in the pre-security Arrivals Hall of Terminal B, A million Times (San José), by artists Humans since 1982, is made from 160 clock faces with white hands set against a black surface. The clock hands have been programmed to spin individually so the artwork sometimes shows the accurate time between performances of three different compositions.

Take a look.

Travelers who have had the chance to go through Terminal 2 at Singapore’s Changi Airport in the past will recognize this version of A million Times, which is made up of 504 clock-faces.

MAGIC SHOW AT DALLAS LOVE FIELD

Who says all the magic has gone out of travel?

On Tuesday (September 21, 2021) Dallas Love Field (DAL) hosted a live magic show for travelers and airport employees.

The 45-minute show by magicians Dal and Cinde Sanders included magic and illusion including, card magic, mind-reading, floating tables, and giant balloon dogs. We’re nominating this for Airport Amenity of the Week.

What do you think?

Airport Crossword Puzzles & TSA Nutcrackers

Holidays, , , , ,

Use your words

We spotted a few airports celebrating National Crossword Puzzle Day on December 21 with their very own aviation-themed puzzles.

The holiday marks the day the first-known printed crossword was published in the New York World newspaper.

Give these puzzles from Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) a try. And let us know which ones we missed.

And just for fun: TSA Nutcrackers

Two TSA officers working at A. B. Won Pat Guam International Airport (GUM)  dressed up these 14-inch-tall nutcrackers in TSA uniforms. Their outfits include insignia patches, hats, airport security badges and, of course, face masks.

Airport songs for safety

Entertainment, , , ,

Like other airports around the country, Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is keeping the facilities clean.

The airport is also using signs and floor stickers to encourage passengers to remember to keep their distance and wear face coverings.

Now, SJC is also getting even more creative with getting those messages out.

The airport has enlisted Santa Cruz-based singer/songwriter artist Nick Gallant to write and record three original songs to remind passengers and employees what they can and should do to keep things safe.

The ditties are catchy.

And you’ll have plenty of time to learn them by heart. Each song is being played throughout the Airport’s terminal buildings once an hour on a 20-minute cycle.

Give a listen:

FlySJC · SJC Go Somewhere Safely

Why play safety songs in an airport?

“By now our travelers and employees know what they need to do to keep each other safe while traveling,” said SJC Assistant Director of Aviation Judy Ross, “So the challenge for us was to find a unique, engaging way to remind everyone to stay vigilant.”

Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) isn’t the first to have safety songs to remind passengers to pay attention to the rules.

Way back in 2011, Montana’s Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) was running a video of a local band named The Singing Sons of Beaches to remind passengers of the rules and routines required at the TSA checkpoint.

The “bonus reminders” aren’t always songs.

Over the years McCarran International Airport Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas has enlisted celebrities to create instructional reminder videos as well.