Toronto Pearson International Airport

Cool new COVID-fighting airport amenities

Airports are rolling out new COVID-fighting amenities faster than we can keep up with them.

Here are few I’ll be talking about this week during the virtual Travel 2021 Summit taking place on October 7 and 8.

We’ll be talking about airports and airlines on Thursday at 10 a.m. east coast time.

The line-up includes lots of experts talking about what’s going in travel now – and what might happen in the near future. Registration is free.

Use your toes in the elevators at Tucson International Airport

At Tucson International Airport (TUS), elevators are now touch-free. Thanks to the addition of toe tap buttons.

Free gadget cleaning at Toronto Pearson International Airport

It looks like a copy machine. But if you put your gadgets in these machines at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) they will get zapped by a UV-C light that destroys novel coronavirus cells.

24-hour kiosk stocked with essentials at Edmonton Int’l Airport

This self-serve Rexall Drug Store machine at Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has 85 different items.

Long Beach Airport wants you back

Long Beach Airport (LGB) has a new video out to remind travelers that they’ve got outdoor concourses and other amenities that are reassuring for travelers.

Toronto Pearson turned into snowglobe

Toronto_Pearson_art

If you’re traveling through Terminal 1 in Toronto Pearson International Airport this week, be sure to look up.

Holiday themed images are being projected onto the ceiling of the Departures Hall, creating an snow globe-like feeling.

Carolers will be strolling the terminals singing holiday favorites and through December 23rd – and on Christmas Eve – Mrs. Claus and her elves will be stopping by to read Christmas stories to children waiting for their flights.

Free movies and free popcorn at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Toronto Pearson TIFF previews at the airport

There are a lot of things you can do while hanging around the airport: eat, drink, snooze, shop, read, talk to a stranger or maybe get some work done.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could also take in a movie?

If you happen to be spending any time at the Toronto Pearson International Airport between now and September 19th, you can do just that.

The 35th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is underway, and from now through September 19th, 2010 travelers passing through the airport can watch TIFF movie trailers in small pop-up theaters.

The 10 X 10 foot screening rooms are set up near gate 140 in Terminal 1 and near gate C35 in Terminal 3. Better yet – each evening theater-patrons can watch the trailers while munching on free popcorn.

Toronto Pearson proud to support TIFF from GTAA Toronto Pearson on Vimeo.

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Tidbits for travelers: Free Wifi at Toronto airport; fresh art at SNA; contraband at JFK

Here at StuckatTheAirport.com we’re a big fan of free wireless Internet at all airports. Slowly but surely we’re moving in that direction. In July, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) began offering free Wi-FI to all travelers and now comes word that Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) began offering free Wi-Fi at the beginning of this month (August, 2010).  Hooray!

Free Wi-Fi at Toronto Airport

Hooray! Free Wi-Fi at Toronto International Airport

There’s also some fresh art at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, California.

Mt. Moran by Steven Gilb

Mt. Moran by Steven Gilb at John Wayne Airport

Photographs by Steven Gilb, who has been a contributing photographer for Arizona’s Highway Magazine since the 1970s are on display through September 7, 2010 on the Departure (upper) Level near the security screening checkpoints and on the Arrival (lower) Level near baggage carousels 1 and 4.  See more of Gilb’s photos here.

And through September 20, 2010, look for the collection of paintings depicting the Jazz Age that are on display in the Terminal A Vi Smith Concourse Gallery across from Gates 11 -14.

John Wayne Airport. Don't Eat Joe by Dong Moy Chu Kingman

Don't Eat Joe by Dong Moy Chu Kingman

The exhibition includes work by 12 California artists who explored geometric and angular abstraction during the Post WWII era. See more photos here.

And.. check out these photos by Taryn Simon that were published in the New York Times magazine on July 29, 2010.

Contraband confiscated at JFK Airport

Contraband becomes art

The photos – including one of a pitcher of salami – are from a set of more than 1000 photos of prohibited items taken from passengers – or discovered in express mail – over a five day period last year at JFK Airport.  (On-line, you can click on an image to see what’s what.) The photos will be part of an exhibition and a book (now on my wish list, Santa) titled “Contraband.”

You can learn more about this project on the New York Times Lens blog.

Get a Clue: toy exhibit at Toronto Pearson Int’l Airport

Two new exhibits at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) are all about toys.

Exploring the Toy Box and Boosting Business: Companies Team up with Toys includes dolls, games, trucks and even a few musical instruments from the 1940’s to today.

The toys are on loan from the Canadian Toy Collectors Society and most every toy on display was made in Canada.

Exploring the Toy Box is in the Malton Gallery, pre-security, above the Canada arrival hall, through July.  The other exhibit, Boosting Business: Companies Team up with Toys is in the International Departures area of the airport through mid-May.

If you’re interested in seeing more toys, be sure to check out the Canadian Toy Collectors Society virtual museum.

The site has photos of  toys made from tin, plastic, rubber and other materials – including this wood and tin Superskyliner by Noma Toys.