San Diego International Airport

San Diego Int’l Airport celebrates opening of new Int’l Arrivals facility

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San Diego International Airport hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of its new 130,000-square-foot International Arrivals facility in Terminal 2 that is five times the size of the previous facility and increases the number of international gates from three to six.

The new facility was needed: the airport has experienced significant growth in international arrivals in the past quarter-century, from about 50,000 passengers a year in the early 1990s to more than 400,000 a year in 2017.

“As airlines look to add to their international networks, it is vital we have adequate facilities readily available to compete and attract new air service,” said Kimberly Becker, Airport Authority President/CEO, “With twice the number of international gates, the latest technologies, and an expanded baggage claim and passenger wait area, this new facility ensures we are equipped to provide a world-class experience for international passengers arriving into San Diego.”

The new facility improves the processing experience for passengers by offering reduced wait times, a more welcoming environment and the newest technologies from U.S. Customs and Border Protection: SAN now becomes one of the first airports to implement 100 percent biometric or facial recognition technology for arriving international flights.

The facility also features two public artworks. Paths Woven, by artist Aaron T. Stephan, is a suspended artwork in the public waiting area that consists of 25 ladders representing the many individual journeys that converge at an airport.

In baggage claim visitors will see Carry On by artist Walter Hood, made up of 52 glass panels featuring more than 600 photos of unique, symbolic items contributed by members of the San Diego community and airport staff.

(Photos courtesy San Diego International Airport)

Mister Rogers at PIT Airport; Aerial dancers at San Diego Int’l

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This week it is impossible to choose just one Airport Amenity of the Week, so we’ll declare a tie.

Pittsburgh International Airport is having a fun event Friday, March 23, to honor Fred Rogers and the Mister Rogers Neighborhood children’s TV show that was produced in Pittsburgh and first aired 50 years ago.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in PIT’s Airside Center Core, airport employees wearing red cardigans will be offering travelers refreshments and handing out free buttons and red shoelaces. A big chalkboard will be set up, so passengers can share memories of watching the TV show during its 33-year run.

The cardigans, the shoelaces, and the “You’re Special, Too!” slogan printed on the buttons are homages to Rogers, who would always tell viewers how special they were and who started each program by putting on a zip-up cardigan and changing out of his loafers into sneakers.

PIT’s event is timed to coincide with Friday’s release of a Mister Rogers Forever stamp and the airport’s post office on Concourse D will have those new stamps to sell. More details here.

 

(Courtesy SAN Airport, photo by Alan Hess)

The next round of the performing arts residency program at San Diego International Airport kicks off Wednesday, March 28 with an aerial rope performance post security in Terminal 2. The event will feature acrobatics, trapeze work, music and dance.

The performers are from the Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre and during a six-month airport residency, dancers and acrobats from the troupe will interact with passengers and create, rehearse and perform new content inspired by what happens at the airport.

So next time you’re at SAN – look up!

Fresh art at San Digeo Int’l Airport covers car rental center

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DAZZLE at SAN courtesy Pablo Mason

 

San Diego International Airport (SAN) has a new giant art installation – called DAZZLE – covering the nearly one-third-mile  face of the airport’s Rental Car Center facing Pacific Highway.

Created by the artist team Uebrall International, the giant high-tech public art installation is made up of  2,100 solar-powered and computer-controlled e-paper panels that transform the building into a changeable, animated mural.

Computer controls allow the e-paper panels to act as individual pixels that, working together, are programmed to display more than 15 unique, artist-designed  animations “that evoke everything from water ripples to moving traffic to dancing snowflakes,” according to Ueberall artist Nik Hafermaas, , who chairs the Graphic Design department at ArtCenter College of Design. 

Why call it DAZZLE ?

The work is named for dazzle camouflage, a type of ship camouflage developed by Norman Wilkinson and used in World War I. Using stripes and other patterns, dazzle helped camouflage the outlines of ships.

Take a look:

Find more news about airports, air travel and other adventures on StuckatTheAirport.com.

Travel Tidbits: Switchfoot at SAN and more.

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Image courtesy SAN & Pablo Mason

This morning, (Monday, June 19) alternative rock band Switchfoot will show up at San Diego International Airport to perform an acoustic set and play with two area youth music groups.  The event will also promote a new exhibition in the airport about BRO-AM, Switchfoot’s  free annual music and surf festival held in Encinitas to benefit area youth causes.

 

Not that many airports have classic barbershops on site anymore, so it’s quite impressive to learn that Nick Palomares has been operating his barbershop at Fresno Yosemite International Airport for 45 years.

“Mr. Palomares’ milestone anniversary is truly a testament of his professionalism and gracious personality that resonates with his clients, passengers and guests,” said Director of Aviation Kevin Meikle in a statement marking the milestone and reminding travelers – even those that don’t need haircuts – to swing by the shop to check out walls of the barbershop, which are filled with photos of celebrities that have passed through the airport.

 

And when you’re spending money at airports and on airplane tickets around the world, keep in mind that pretty much every one of those companies has a foundation that supports non-profits in many communities.

For example, HMS Host, which operates food and beverage venues at more than 120 airports worldwide, has the HMSHost Foundation, which last week gave a $20,000 grant to Grace-Mar Services in support of the group’s work to provide financial literacy, job readiness and other services in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the groups have also worked together on job placements at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Dancers descend on San Diego International Airport

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Photo courtesy US National Archives, via Flickr Commons

Last year it was a circus. This year: a dance troupe.

San Diego International Airport will introduce its newest performing artists-in-residence today with a dance procession through the airport and a performance at Bag Claim Carousel 3.

Launched in 2016, SAN’s Performing Arts Residency program invites one local performing arts group to hang out in the airport for a year with the goal of developing and performing new work inspired by the airport environment.

Last year it was a local circus troupe. This year, it’s going to be San Diego’s transcenDANCE Youth Art Project, so get ready to dance.