News on Travel - Aviation

Airbus and China Make Push for Alternative Fuels

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:47:11 +0000

Airbus and one of the world’s leading academic institutions, Tsinghua University have formed a partnership to complete a sustainability analysis of Chinese feedstocks, and to evaluate how best to support the development of a value chain to speed up the commercialisation of aviation bio-fuels.

The value chain aims to produce and to promote the use of aviation bio-fuel in China, the world’s fastest growing aviation market.

In phase one, the partnership is assessing suitable feedstocks that comply with ecological, economic and social sustainability criteria. The sustainability analysis is managed by Airbus and involves close collaboration with Tsinghua and leading European institutions. Phase two will narrow down the most promising alternative fuel solutions.

The first results are due to be analysed in the second half of 2012. The goal is to select a number of feedstocks including used cooking oil (which would otherwise be waste) and also algae. By the beginning of 2013, the full sustainability analysis should have been completed.

From 2013 onwards, the partners will look at scaling-up the alternative fuel production process to achieve sustainable quantities of aviation fuel for commercial use.

“We are privileged to be working with our Chinese partners to determine how best we can contribute to a sustainable aviation sector in China” said Frédéric Eychenne, Airbus New Energies Programme Manager. “The commercialisation of alternative fuels is one of the essential ingredients in our quest to achieving ambitious environmental targets in aviation.

"We are grateful to Airbus support for the project." The Project Manager, Professor Zhang Xiliang, Director of Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, Tsinghua University, said, "the project will help us improve the understanding of the nature of aviation Biofuels commercialisation in China, identify the opportunities and challenges, and evaluate the possibility of social, economic, market and technology change and its cost, obstacles and challenges. We believe that the research will have positive effects on energy conservation, emissions reduction and climate change addressing in Chinese aviation sector."

The partnership agreement is one of the initiatives to develop a complete sustainable aviation bio-fuel production capability in China, using only sustainable resources and is part of the Airbus goal to have in place a value chain in every continent by 2012. So far Airbus has value chains in Latin America, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and with the Chinese value chain, Asia.

Airbus to Establish Assembly Line in United States

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 19:51:43 +0000

In a major strategic announcement today, Airbus said it will establish a manufacturing facility in the United States to assemble and deliver A320 Family aircraft.

Located at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama, it will be the company's first U.S.-based production facility. Airbus stressed that the assembly line, which will create jobs and strengthen the aerospace industry, is part of its strategy to enhance Airbus' global competitiveness by meeting the growing needs of its customers in the United Statesand elsewhere.

The facility in Alabama will assemble the industry-leading family of A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. The company said construction of the assembly line will begin in summer 2013. Aircraft assembly is planned to start in 2015, with first deliveries from the Mobile facility beginning in 2016. Airbus anticipates the facility will produce between 40 and 50 aircraft per year by 2018.

"The time is right for Airbus to expand in America," said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President & CEO at the announcement today in Mobile. "The U.S. is the largest single-aisle aircraft market in the world – with a projected need for 4,600 aircraft over the next 20 years - and this assembly line brings us closer to our customers. Mobile is now becoming part of Airbus' global production network, joining our successful and growing assembly lines in Hamburg, Toulouse and Tianjin.

"When Airbus aircraft take to the skies, our pride and workmanship will soar along with them," Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said. "We owe thanks to so many people who helped make this effort a success. This project will create 1,000 stable, well-paying jobs that the people of this area need and deserve. Alabama has the best workforce you'll find anywhere in the U.S. Airbus has recognized all that this state can offer expanding industries, and the company is making a significant new investment in Alabama. Airbus and its parent company, EADS, have been great citizens of Alabama for years now, and we are excited to build on our wonderful relationship."

Airbus already has a strong and growing presence in Alabama and throughout the United States. In Alabama, the company operates an Engineering Center in Mobile – also located at Brookley Aeroplex and employing more than 200 engineers and support staff – as well as an Airbus Military customer services operation supporting U.S. Coast Guard aircraft. In addition, Airbus operates an Engineering Center in Wichita, Kansas; an aircraft Spares Center in Ashburn, Virginia; a Training Center in Miami, Florida, and a regulatory and government liaison office in Washington, D.C. Subsidiary Metron Aviation, a leading provider of advanced Air Traffic Management (ATM) products and services, is based in Dulles, Virginia. Airbus' headquarters for the Americas are located in Herndon, Virginia. All together, Airbus' U.S. facilities currently employ more than 1,000 people.

The company said that the new Mobile assembly line, together with associated functions, should create as many as 1,000 new high-skilled jobs.

Airbus' assembly line in Mobile will add to existing production capabilities by other EADS companies in the United States. For example, American Eurocopter manufactures helicopters at facilities in Columbus, Mississippi and Grand Prairie, Texas, while Cassidian Communications has an assembly plant in Temecula, California.

Airbus is the largest export customer for the U.S. aerospace industry. Since 1990, the company has spent $127 billion with U.S. suppliers – $12 billion last year alone.

Airbus partners with hundreds of US suppliers in more than 40 US states, and the company's expenditures in the U.S. support more than 210,000 American jobs.

Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Over 11,500 Airbus aircraft have been sold to more than 470 customers and operators worldwide and more than 7,200 of these have been delivered since the company first entered the market in the early seventies. Airbus is an EADS company.

Frankfurt Airport Reports Rising Passenger Numbers in the First Quarter of 2012

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:54:30 +0000

Some 12.2 million passengers passed through Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in the first three months of 2012, representing a 3.5 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous year.

For the month of March 2012, a year-on-year increase of 4.1 percent was achieved compared to the same month last year. Approximately 4.5 million passengers traveled through FRA in March 2012, thus exceeding the previous monthly record set in March 2007 by more than 50,000 passengers.

Cargo volume dropped 12.2 percent in the first three months of this year. In March 2012, cargo tonnage shrank by 11 percent year-on-year to 180,332 metric tons. The decline in cargo volume at FRA was due to the uncertainties in the global economy and the night flight curfew.

As a result of strike-related flight cancellations, aircraft movements shrank by 1.7 percent to 112,448 takeoffs and landings in the first quarter of 2012. In March 2012, aircraft movements recorded a year-on-year decline of 1.2 percent to 40,405 takeoffs and landings.

Accumulated takeoff weights (MTOWs) amounted to 6.7 million metric tons in the first three months of the year, down 1.8 percent. In March 2012, MTOWs contracted by 1.5 percent year-on-year to 2.4 million metric tons.

Across all Group airports, Fraport welcomed more than 17.5 million passengers from January to March 2012 - a 3.9 percent increase on the previous year. In March 2012, 6.5 million passengers passed through the Fraport Group's majority owned airports in Frankfurt, Antalya (Turkey), Burgas and Varna (Bulgaria) as well as Lima (Peru). This represents a gain of 2.9 percent compared to March 2011. Cargo volume throughout the Group shrank by 10.9 percent to 546,509 metric tons in the first quarter. With 165,695 takeoffs and landings, aircraft movements remained almost unchanged.

Peru's Lima Airport (LIM) handled approximately 3.1 million passengers from January to March, up 11.2 percent. With 2.1 million passengers, Antalya Airport (AYT) on the Turkish Riviera registered a 2.5 percent decline from January to March 2012, as passenger figures saw a strong boost in the same period of the previous year. On the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, traffic surged at Burgas Airport (BOJ) by 96.5 percent to 57,731 passengers in the first quarter of 2012. This rise can be attributed partially to the diversion of traffic from Varna Airport (VAR), which was temporarily closed for reconstruction work from October 15, 2011 to February 28, 2012. After its reopening, VAR recorded a total of 14,862 passengers in March.

Boeing and Embraer Sign Agreement for Broad Business Cooperation

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:18:46 +0000

Embraer S.A. (BM&F Bovespa: EMBR3, NYSE: ERJ) and Boeing (NYSE: BA) have announced a cooperation agreement to work together to benefit their customers, their companies and the global aviation industry.

The agreement establishes an important relationship between two of the world's largest aerospace companies to cooperate in ways that enhance operational efficiency, safety and productivity, improve customer satisfaction and create value for both companies and their customers.

Frederico Curado, President and CEO of Embraer S.A., and Jim Albaugh, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, signed the agreement during the visit of Brazil's President to the United States and following the annual meeting of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, a public-private partnership between the United States and Brazilian Governments which brings together chief executive officers from both countries. Curado and Albaugh are co-chairs of the CEO Forum's aviation subcommittee.

Boeing and Embraer have agreed to pursue several areas of cooperation, including commercial aircraft features that enhance safety and efficiency, research and technology and sustainable aviation biofuels. They will also look for other areas to work together to bring mutual benefit and value to customers.

"This significant agreement between two proven aerospace leaders provides real opportunities to reduce customers' operational costs and enhance fleet efficiency," said Albaugh. "We look forward to working with Embraer to grow our industry and build a productive relationship that will benefit our companies and our countries."

"Embraer has a clear commitment towards innovation lato sensu as well as aviation safety and efficiency," said Curado. "I am certain that the collaboration with Boeing in some leading-edge matters will be beneficial for the industry and strengthen the ties between Brazil and the United States."

The announcement by Embraer and Boeing was made on the same day as the signing by the Brazilian and United States Governments of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Aviation Partnership, to expand and deepen cooperation between the two countries on civil aviation, by facilitating the liaison between government agencies and increase private sector cooperation and awareness, creating economic partnerships and promoting investments.

Boeing and Embraer have already engaged in other cooperative agreements. In July 2011 they announced plans to jointly fund an analysis of opportunities to produce sustainable aviation jet fuel from sugarcane. In March 2012, Boeing, Embraer and Airbus announced a memorandum of understanding to work together on the development of drop-in, affordable aviation biofuels.

Embraer has had a corporate presence in the U.S. for over 3 decades and last year started manufacturing activities at its facility in Melbourne, Florida, where it is currently assembling executive jets. More recently, Embraer announced the creation of the Embraer Engineering and Technology Center USA to conduct research and development activities for both product and technology development across Embraer's business lines.

Boeing has had a strong and enduring partnership with Brazil for 80 years, since delivery of 14 F4B-4 fighters to the Brazilian Government in 1932 and as a commercial aircraft provider to Brazilian airlines. In October 2011, Boeing opened its Brazil office in Sao Paulo, and said in December that it will partner with the Brazil-U.S. Fulbright Commission to fund "Science Without Borders" fellowships for 14 Brazilian aerospace and aeronautical engineering students. Last week, the company announced that it will open Boeing Research & Technology-Brazil to work with leading Brazilian researchers and scientists to develop aerospace technologies.

The U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum comes together to provide joint recommendations to the two Governments on ways to strengthen the U.S.-Brazil economic relationship. This is the Forum's seventh meeting.

NATS 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report Lays out Strategy for Sustainable Aviation in the UK

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:42:23 +0000

NATS, the UK's leading air traffic services provider and a global supplier of aviation solutions, released its 2012 Corporate Responsibility report which outlines NATS' commitment to driving the sustainable aviation agenda in the UK.

The report, which is the third Corporate Responsibility report since 2008, chronicles the progress NATS has made since becoming the first air traffic management company in the world to calculate CO₂ emissions in its airspace and set a target to reduce air traffic related CO₂ by an average 10% per flight by 2020. To focus the company further on this goal, NATS has recently introduced another world first -- 3Di, an entirely new environmental performance metric which has taken NATS three years to develop.

3Di, the 3-Dimensional inefficiency score, is a flight efficiency metric which extends the existing European horizontal flight efficiency metric to include vertical elements. 3Di seeks to account for the benefits delivered as a result of air traffic controllers delivering continuous climb departures, cruise levels as requested by airspace users and continuous descents, as well as most direct point to point routeings.

Working with airline customers and the UK regulator, NATS has integrated 3Di into its performance analytics and, as of January 1, 2012, became the first ANSP to be financially incentivised on environmental performance. Under the incentive regime, if NATS meets its targets it could be worth up to £120 million in fuel cost savings to airlines at today's prices, or around 600,000 tonnes of CO₂ over the next three years.

"Fuel burn has always been a major cost to airlines. With the introduction of aviation into the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, emissions will now be an additional cost," said Richard Deakin, Chief Executive Officer, NATS. "NATS has led the way by developing and committing ourselves to 3Di, a financially incentivised environmental performance metric that will support the industry in reducing costs and reducing environmental impact."

In addition to introducing the 3Di metric, the Corporate Responsibility report highlights the steps NATS has already taken towards making aviation sustainable, including:

NATS has made more than 100 operational and procedural changes in air traffic flows in the Swanwick, Prestwick and Oceanic regions. These have saved an estimated 115,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions - a fuel saving worth £22m.
In 2011 alone NATS delivered over 26 changes at Swanwick and Prestwick, enabling fuel savings of over 19,000 tonnes fuel, worth almost £13m and saving 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
The UK-Ireland FAB - the first to be established under the Single European Sky initiative - has now been operational since July 2008 and is estimated to have enabled 48,000 tonnes fuel savings, that's 152,000 tonnes CO₂.
A new generation of advanced controller support tools became fully operational at Swanwick in November 2011. iFACTS, based on Trajectory Prediction and Medium Term Conflict Detection, provides decision-making support and helps controllers manage their routine workload, allowing the controller to check better climb profiles so an aircraft reaches cruising levels sooner and with fewer step climbs.
In 2011, NATS established local environment action plans for the 15 airport ATC units where NATS provides the air traffic control service. During 2012 NATS will complete the work to create a baseline figure for environmental performance at each airport unit and quantify, for the first time, the contribution the airport units collectively can make to NATS' overall 10% CO₂ reduction target.

NATS remains dedicated to supporting aviation by enabling tools and technologies to improve the environmental performance of traffic in UK airspace. Working closely with partners in the industry, NATS is making progress minimising the environmental impact of air traffic management to enable the sustainable growth of the industry.

Boeing Teams up with Major League Baseball and Seattle Mariners for Season Opener in Japan

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:03:54 +0000

Boeing (NYSE: BA) will be a major sponsor of Major League Baseball and the Seattle Mariners for this year's season opening series in Tokyo, Japan. Gloops Japan Opening Series 2012 features the Mariners and the Oakland Athletics in a two-game series March 28 and 29.

"The opportunity to spotlight our relationship with the Seattle Mariners in Japan, a place where Boeing has had a strong presence for more than five decades, gives us a great deal of pride," said Mary Foerster, vice president of Communications and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The Mariners have been valued community partners since the club was founded, and the Japan series expands our shared tradition of investing to make our communities stronger and more vibrant."

In the days leading up to the opening series, Boeing will partner with Major League Baseball and the Mariners to host a children's baseball clinic in Ishinomaki, one of the cities most impacted by last year's earthquake and tsunami. About 100 children are expected to participate in the event. The players will later share a meal with the community featuring tonjiru, a traditional Japanese stew.

"This is one small way we can work with the Mariners to give something back to the people of Japan," said Mike Denton, president of Boeing Japan. "We hope it puts smiles on the faces of children and parents who've faced so much tragedy."

In the aftermath of last year's earthquake, Boeing employees donated $1.3 million and the company pledged $1 million more toward the recovery efforts.

During Gloops Japan Opening Series 2012, the Mariners will wear a Boeing jersey patch on their sleeves. Boeing's logo is well-known by Japanese baseball fans since it is prominently featured on the right-field wall of Safeco Field, directly behind Ichiro Suzuki. The Mariners will also play exhibition games with the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers leading up to the series with Oakland.

"Boeing is one of the great companies of the Northwest and they are one of the best supporters the Mariners have ever had. This is a first for us to wear a sponsor logo on our uniforms and there is no one we would rather have on our jerseys than Boeing," said Bob Aylward, Mariners Executive Vice President Business Operations.

Boeing Invests in World-Class Everett Delivery Center

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:52:46 +0000

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has announced another major investment in its Puget Sound site operations with the planned construction of a new, expanded Everett Delivery Center (EDC).

The EDC plays a critical role in Boeing's Everett site operations, serving as the hub for delivering 747, 767, 777 and 787 commercial airplanes.

The investment in the new state-of-the-art facility will feature three times the office, conference and delivery operations space as the current EDC. The expansion will create more capacity for deliveries and allow the EDC to better focus on the airline customer experience.

"With production rates increasing across all airplane programs, we expect deliveries in record numbers for years to come," said Jeff Klemann, vice president of the delivery center. "Our outgrowth of space is a great by-product of our Everett employees' success. A new facility will allow us to best serve our customers as we deliver Boeing's finest airplanes at a pace that continues to quicken."

Approximately 3,500 airplanes have delivered from the facility, first opened in the late 1960s.

Boeing employees and customers housed in the EDC have started to relocate temporarily to the neighboring Everett Modification Center (formerly known as Aviation Technical Services or ATS), a leased facility at the South end of Paine Field.

Demolition of the current facility is expected to begin in January 2012 followed by a groundbreaking ceremony in early 2012. The new EDC is expected to open for operation in the first quarter of 2013. Plans are already in place to ensure seamless deliveries during this interim construction and expansion period.

Closed Captioning Now Available for Live Television Onboard Continental Airlines

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:51:01 +0000

LiveTV has announced that, for the first time in the history of inflight entertainment, closed captioning is now available for live television content onboard an aircraft.

This system enhancement is a major step forward in delivering the excitement of inflight entertainment to those passengers with hearing disabilities and continues to drive towards LiveTV's goal of a fully realized "At Home in the Air" experience for each of its end-users.

The Closed Captioning enhancement will initially be offered to passengers on all LTV3-equipped Boeing 737NG aircraft operated by Continental Airlines, a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, thereby putting each customer in control of the feature while interacting with the 100+ channels of DIRECTV-provided satellite television available onboard. Continental will be the first airline in the world to provide this feature to its passengers.

About LiveTV

LiveTV is the world's leading provider of live in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems for commercial airlines.

Founded in 1998 in Melbourne, Florida, LiveTV has installation and maintenance locations around the world to support the more than 700 aircraft equipped with its products.

Current customers include JetBlue, Continental, Frontier, AirTran, Alitalia, Virgin Blue, WestJet and Azul. For a full listing of products and partners, or for more information, please visit www.livetv.net. LiveTV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways.

Frankfurt Airport Plans 90 Flights Per Hour This Winter

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:29:03 +0000

The new Winter Timetable 2011/2012 - which goes into effect on October 30th in tandem with the time change in Germany - features expanded flight services from the airlines who are utilizing the extra capacity available following the recent inauguration of Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) new Runway Northwest.

In the first phase of FRA's capacity expansion, the number of planned flights will grow from an average of 83 to up to 90 takeoffs and landings per hour. The total number of departures (passenger, cargo, and other) will increase by 3.7 percent year-on-year to 4,535 per week this winter season, while total seat capacity via FRA will jump by 7.1 percent to 715,000 seats per week.

In intercontinental traffic, Lufthansa (LH/DLH)) will return to the pulsating Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro (GIG), with five flights per week. Lufthansa last served this route from Frankfurt in 2005. Effective January 21, ANA All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) will be flying to the new destination of Haneda Airport (HND) in the heart of metropolitan Tokyo. ANA, which is the launch carrier of Boeing's new B787 Dreamliner, has chosen FRA-HND as the first intercontinental route for this new generation jet. Thus, travelers will be able to choose from four flights daily from Frankfurt to Tokyo (Narita and Haneda airports) this winter.

New destinations in FRA's Winter Timetable 2011/2012 will include San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean and Ras al Khaimah (RKT) in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). SJU will be served twice weekly by Frankfurt-based Condor, while RAK Airways (RT/RKM) will fly once a week from FRA to RKT. As of December 1, Emirates (EK/UAE) will be offering seven flights per week to Dubai. Thus, Frankfurt passengers will then have a choice of three daily connections to Dubai. From January 3, United Airlines (UA/UAL) will be flying twice daily from FRA to New York-Newark (EWR). This will raise the choice of available connections from FRA to the New York region to eight flights per day. Replacing its 747-400 service, Singapore Airlines (SQ/SIA) will deploy the Airbus A380 daily on the Singapore (SIN) to Frankfurt (FRA) to New York (JFK) route beginning January 15. Lufthansa will also be offering A380 superjumbo comfort to its passengers on the Frankfurt to Singapore route as of October 30.

In European traffic, various new routes will be introduced from Frankfurt to the United Kingdom. Lufthansa will be departing thrice daily to the oil and engineering center of Aberdeen (ABZ) on the North Sea coast of Scotland. London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) will be served twice daily by Lufthansa this winter as well. British Midland Airways (BD/BMA) will be serving as a new carrier at FRA the destination of Nottingham/East Midlands (EMA) with 16 connections per week. To the south of Frankfurt, Air Dolomiti (EN/DLA) will be flying 12 times weekly to the new destination of Bergamo (BGY) in the Milan region of northern Italy. Lufthansa will add Klagenfurt (KLU), Austria, to its schedule with two services per week.

In domestic traffic, the most important changes for the winter season include: Air Berlin's cancellation of its flights on the Frankfurt to Hamburg route (which it has been flying up to five times daily), while Lufthansa will expand its flights from Frankfurt to Munich by six to a total of 96 connections per week.

Hobby Airport Roadway Renovation Begins in Houston

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:37:45 +0000

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is poised to begin a $6 million capital improvement project to its ticket-level entrance ramp that will impact thousands of customers who travel through Houston's second busiest airport.

Departing passenger auto traffic will be routed through the second level of the parking garage where passengers who are being dropped off will step out of their vehicles to enter the terminal.

"This project returns our main entrance to opening day fresh and ensures that the investment will allow Houston to welcome millions of new passengers for decades to come," said Mario Diaz, Director of the Houston Airport System. "The changes are part of an overall $350 million renovation to enhance the customer experience by making this gateway more efficient and user-friendly."

The airport entrance ramp construction is expected to be completed in 2012. While construction is on-going, the Houston Airport System has the following tips for getting through and around Hobby Airport:

• If you are picking up arriving passengers, we encourage you to park in the Passenger Pick Up Waiting Lot, off of Airport Boulevard and wait until you receive a call or text from family or friends saying they are ready to be picked up outside baggage claim

• Use www.fly2houston.com flight tracker to check on status of the flight or call (281) 230-7000

• If you are flying on Southwest Airlines and want to use curbside check-in, you will be directed to go to the first level near baggage claim

• Once you are in the new second floor drop off area in the garage, you will be directed to use a crosswalk on the east side of the parking garage transitioning to the main terminal lobby area

• If you want to park and go into the terminal, you may still park in the garage, or better yet, please consider our new ecopark lots within easy walking distance to the terminal for your convenience

• Arrive at airport two hours before your scheduled departure

Detailed information is available at www.fly2houston.com/projecthobby

Annually, nine million passengers travel on one of the following six airlines that operate at Hobby Airport: Southwest Airlines, AirTran, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and jetBlue. Seventy-nine percent of Hobby's traffic is made up of passengers who selected Houston as their final destination or the origination of their trip, while 21 percent of the people flying into Hobby are connecting on another flight.

Hobby Airport generates $4.5 billion annually to the Houston economy as a gateway supporting Houston's energy firms and the Texas Medical Center.

Northrop Grumman Wins Innovation Award for Airport Realtime Collaboration (ARC) Technology

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:44:30 +0000

Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Europe-based airport systems group has received an award for innovation at Inter Airport Europe 2011 for its Airport Realtime Collaboration (ARC) technology and services capability.

Inter Airport Europe is the world's leading trade exhibition for the airport industry and was held in Munich from 11-14 October. The innovation award, in the category of interDATA, was presented to Northrop Grumman on the opening morning of the show.

"We are delighted to win such a prestigious award in recognition of the innovation of ARC," said Charles Houseago, managing director of Northrop Grumman's airports systems group. "This comes at a very exciting time as we are enhancing the product offering to encompass a new ARC Passenger Flow Module which offers airports a simple way to use existing data sources in a smarter way, giving more accurate forecasting and higher predictability."

ARC is designed to provide the airport community with more accurate and timely information for enhanced decision making and improved coordination of airport operations. The ARC technology uses existing infrastructure to deliver a common situational awareness picture through web-based geographical and tabular views of the airfield operations. ARC's processes, and suite of complementary professional services delivered by experienced airport practitioners, can be optimised to combine industry best practices with local airport needs.

ARC software provides data sharing and through accurate taxi time calculation, enables optimum departure sequencing. The ARC software is intelligent in the complexity of the tasks it performs, belied by the simplicity of its appearance. The calculation of the taxi times takes into account aircraft type, airfield layout, operating conditions and a host of other parameters to ensure a departure sequence which maximises flow and minimises delay.

The truly innovative element of ARC is that the combination of software and the expertise of the ARC professional services team can provide the complete A-CDM solution to airports. Many suppliers offer IT systems to support data sharing and collaboration, but the expert support and intelligence behind Northrop Grumman's ARC sets it apart.

Inter Airport Europe's independent Awards Jury consisted of the following members: Ben Vogel, Editor, Jane's Airport Review; Martin Lamprecht, Publisher, Momberger Airport Information; Michael Zaddach, Head of IT Services, Munich Airport; and Greg Ballentine, Senior Aviation Planner/Architect, GENIVAR.

Northrop Grumman's airport systems group based in Peterborough, U.K. provides the global airport market with products and services to aid efficiency.

British Prime Minister Opens New Airbus Wing Factory for A350 XWB

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:04:23 +0000

The British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron, officially opened Airbus’ new £400 million wing factory in Wales, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility which will assemble the wings for Airbus’ advanced new A350 XWB long-range aircraft family.

The Prime Minister joined hundreds of guests and Airbus employees to unveil the giant, environmentally friendly Airbus North Factory at Broughton, Flintshire where 650 people will eventually work. Bigger than Wembley Stadium, it is one of the largest manufacturing facilities to be built in the UK in recent years and will produce high-tech carbon fibre ‘composite’ wings for the A350 XWB.

The A350 XWB programme will support over 1,200 jobs in the Airbus sites at Filton and Broughton and over 5,000 other high skill/high value jobs across the UK supply chain. Over £3 billion has been invested in the aircraft and its engines by UK aerospace companies in the programme which underpins the key position of the UK as a global centre of aerospace manufacture.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The Government is committed to building a more balanced economy with stronger manufacturing, exports and private investment, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK. I welcome the opening of Airbus's new state of the art facility which will contribute to this and support our programme to create sustainable economic growth. Airbus's investment here also underlines its confidence in the expertise of its British workforce and in the UK's manufacturing base.”

Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan said:" This magnificent facility is a key part of the A350 XWB programme which will help sustain and support thousands of jobs across the UK. I have been a frequent visitor to Airbus and am confident this will further cement Wales' growing reputation as a first class innovator and leader in the Aerospace and supply chain sector. The new A350 XWB facility is great news for the North Wales economy and a tangible example of the kind of private sector growth the Government is working to create."

st Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones added: “The opening of this world class facility is a major achievement and excellent news for Wales. The Welsh Government and Airbus are delighted to be able to celebrate such a significant event which underlines a major investment in Broughton and reinforces our reputation as a country with high end manufacturing skills and high value products”.

“The Airbus North Factory, a truly world-leading aircraft wing assembly plant, is a major pillar in the Airbus global setup. The opening today marks an important milestone for our A350 programme as we move towards the start of the aircraft final assembly”, said Airbus Chief Executive, Tom Enders. “This new facility and all the teams working on building our A350’s carbon-fibre wings will play a vital role in delivering this new generation aircraft.”

The North Factory assembly line is dedicated to assembling the 31 metre long wings for all members of the A350 XWB Family which is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2013. Currently employing 6,000 people, the 700 acre Airbus site at Broughton specialises in wing production and has a proud tradition of aerospace manufacture going back over 70 years. Over £1.8 billion has been invested into the site in the past decade ensuring it is one of the most modern manufacturing facilities of its type anywhere in the world.

· The pioneering Airbus North Factory covers a total area of over 46,000 square metres.

· 58,000 metres of cable have been installed, this would reach from Broughton to Manchester

· 8,000 tonnes of steelwork were used to build the factory

· 250,000 bolts hold the building together

· Optimised for energy savings, the factory’s power comes in part from three large solar tracking arrays and a wood pellet biomass power plant boiler.

Airbus in the UK and its supply chain provide supplies and services worth nearly £1.5 billion annually to the UK economy. 10,000 people work for Airbus in the UK with 100,000 UK jobs supported through its wider supply chain.

Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern, comprehensive and efficient passenger aircraft family on the more than 100-seat market, while its military division is the global leader for transport, tanker and surveillance airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. Airbus in the UK is world-renowned for its centres of excellence for both wing design and manufacture.

More than 1,000 Aircraft will be Needed Within the Next 20 Years in Russia

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:23:47 +0000

Russian carriers will need more than 1,000 passenger aircraft over the next 20 years in response to the strong traffic growth, according to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF).

The forecast ranks Russia sixth in the top ten countries for passenger aircraft demand after US, China, India, Germany and UK.

The Russian passenger aircraft fleet of 100 seats or more is expected to grow strongly from 519 aircraft in service in 2010 to 1,058 by 2030. This means that over the next 20 years Russian airlines will need 1,006 aircraft, valued at US$ 95 billion to meet fleet growth as well as aircraft replacement. These additional aircraft will include some 839 single-aisle aircraft which are currently prominent in the region’s fleet, 145 wide-bodies and some 22 Very Large Aircraft (VLA) to satisfy strong international travel growth.

The growing demand for aircraft is the consequence of the impressive increase of passenger traffic in Russia driven by consistent economic growth and the ongoing airline consolidation. According to Airbus forecast, passenger traffic in Russia is expected to increase at a rate of 5.6 per cent per year on average over the next 20 years, which is much faster than the world average of 4.8 per cent. The biggest traffic growth is expected to be on international destinations from Russia to Asia-Pacific (+7%) and CIS regions (6.7%).

“We see very strong demand for new, fuel-efficient aircraft in Russia and forecast the need for over 1000 aircraft in the forthcoming 20 years. We intend to get at least half of the deliveries in the region”, said Christopher Buckley, Executive Vice President Europe, Asia and the Pacific. “Russia remains a strategic market for Airbus. This year we have significantly extended our Airbus operators’ base in Russia by three new airlines and we expect to have another two to three by the end of the year”.

For nearly 20 years Airbus has been developing co-operation with the Russian aviation industry, with both sides demonstrating the will to build a long-term mutually beneficial partnership. This includes the implementation of a wide range of research and technology projects, the establishment of an Airbus Engineering Centre in Moscow (ECAR), material purchase and components manufacturing. Such a comprehensive and unique program allows Russia to participate as an equal partner in all major stages of Airbus aircraft development.

Today, nine Russian airlines operate over 170 Airbus aircraft. Over 80 jets are scheduled for delivery in the forthcoming years.

Boeing Awarded 'Greener Skies' Contract by Federal Aviation Administration

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:34:34 +0000

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has announced a research task order award from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maximize performance-based navigation capabilities across the United States.

The FAA initiated a $3.1 million task order for "Greener Skies Initiative 2." The Boeing team will evaluate current precision navigation procedures and analyze new procedures to advance the use of flight deck and air traffic control capabilities in the national airspace system for an improved air traffic management system.

The Initiative builds on the success of the Greener Skies Over Seattle project, which demonstrated Alaska Airlines' ability to cut fuel burn and reduce emissions by 35 percent compared to a conventional landing using precision navigation called Required Navigation Performance (RNP).

"The Greener Skies 2 initiative represents another critical milestone as Boeing helps to drive implementation of NextGen, the FAA's program to transform the national airspace system," said Neil Planzer, vice president, Air Traffic Management, Boeing Flight Services. "This research and development initiative supports Boeing's strategic focus on maximizing the capabilities of Boeing aircraft and implement RNP globally."

Required Navigation Performance (RNP) is a GPS-based navigation technology that enables aircraft to fly precise and predefined paths to closely spaced parallel runways. The result is more efficient departure, en-route and approach profiles and a reduction in fuel usage, emissions and noise. The research will help create new procedures in flight deck and air traffic control ground-based systems, which will lead to new reduced separation criteria and increased safety margins.

The procedures will be tested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Seattle's Boeing Field for future implementation at capacity-constrained airports across the United States.

The contract is a task order award under the FAA's Systems Engineering 2020 (SE-2020) contract. Boeing will lead an industry consortium consisting of SE-2020 team members Adacel, Airbus, Cessna and Honeywell. Boeing's Air Traffic Management team draws on expertise from across Boeing, including Commercial Airplanes, Flight Services, including Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen, Boeing Research and Technology and Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

Boeing, Alaska Airlines, the Port of Seattle and the FAA began the Greener Skies partnership in 2009. In 2010, the FAA approved Greener Skies as an official FAA project.

British Airways Selects Airbus Flight Hour Services for its A380 Fleet

newsdesk@newsonnews.net (Newsdesk) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:16:19 +0000

British Airways, an International Airlines Group company, has selected Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS) to provide aircraft inventory support for its A380 fleet of aircraft.

The FHS agreement, which will run for 15 years, provides an extensive scope of A380 line replaceable units (LRUs), spare parts, repairs and logistics services to British Airways Engineering. In addition, it will feature the deployment of a non-exclusive pool of A380 LRU spare parts at London Heathrow Airport, the major A380 hub in Europe.

Garry Copeland, Director of Engineering at British Airways said: “This long-term commitment recognises our confidence in Airbus to deliver the best possible service to future British Airways customers on A380 daily operations around the world.”

Didier Lux, EVP Customer Services at Airbus said: “We are delighted to welcome British Airways as our first A380 FHS customer in Europe. This strengthens both our worldwide market position and ability to expand our presence in this area.”

British Airways currently operates a fleet of more than 80 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. British Airways has ordered 12 A380s, which are scheduled for delivery from 2013 onwards.

The Airbus FHS portfolio today includes half a dozen customers (operators of A330, A340, and A380 aircraft), all benefiting from outstanding operational performance.

DFW International Airport To Add More Passenger Space and Amenities With Terminal E Expansion Project

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:10:15 +0000

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is starting construction to add 54,000 square feet of "landside" interior terminal space in Terminal E, creating more room for ticketing, baggage claim, security and passenger services.

The work will expand the terminal building between gates E17 and E31, and is part of the DFW Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP). The initial phase for Terminal E also includes the reactivation of the 'satellite' terminal, which houses seven aircraft gates.

TRIP is a seven-year, $1.9 billion renovation plan to renew all four of the Airport's original terminals, which first opened with DFW in 1974. Under TRIP, DFW will replace aging infrastructure systems, update concessions and redesign terminal space to greatly improve the passenger experience. Construction work in Terminal A has been underway since May, and a temporary wall in Terminal E now marks the TRIP expansion into a second terminal.

"This work in Terminal E is designed to meet the needs of passengers today while we transition to completely renewed facilities," said DFW Airport CEO Jeff Fegan. "We will soon greet customers with new, high-efficiency building systems and technology, modernized spaces with the most highly requested passenger amenities and improvements for our airline partners."

The Terminal E satellite facility work will reactivate seven gates and create several new concessions outlets, allowing airlines to continue their operations seamlessly and DFW to continue to provide excellent customer service during the renewal program.

"This first phase in Terminal E is designed to maintain DFW's superior passenger service," said Perfecto Solis, DFW's Vice President of Airport Development & Engineering. "During the next three phases, the satellite gates will serve as a temporary home for airlines as we replace the aging building systems and technology infrastructure, and renovate concessions and other spaces within the main terminal."

During Phase 1 of the Terminal E project, some curbside activities such as Terminal Link shuttle bus service and pre-arranged limousine service will transfer to other areas of the terminal roadway. Signage at these areas will direct passengers to the new locations. Later in the project, periodic traffic interruptions may occur in the overnight hours as TRIP team members move materials using a tall tower crane. Daytime traffic will not be interrupted.

Phases 2, 3 and 4 of the Terminal E renovation will encompass the renewal of the main areas of the terminal, and are scheduled to take place between 2013 and 2016.

"At the completion of the TRIP in 2017, DFW Airport will truly be one of the most advanced transportation hubs in the world," said Fegan. "As we redefine DFW Airport, our mission remains to provide our customers with outstanding facilities and services, expanding global access and economic benefits to those we serve."

Airbus to Acquire Danish Firm Satair

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:20:08 +0000

Airbus, an EADS (EUR:EAD) subsidiary, and Satair A/S (“Satair”) (NASDAQ OMX:SAT), a Danish company listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen, have entered into an agreement under which Airbus will offer the shareholders of Satair a price of DKK 580 in cash per share - and the warrant holders in Satair a price of DKK 378.661 per warrant.

The acquisition will be effected through a public voluntary conditional tender offer, which the Board of Directors of Satair has undertaken to recommend the company’s shareholders to accept. Airbus will make the offer through a wholly owned special purpose entity, Airbus Denmark Holding ApS.

Led by an experienced management team with a proven track record, Satair is a premier independent distributor of aircraft parts and services specializing in expendables and components. Through its worldwide supply chain network and its regional sales offices, Satair provides aviation parts and innovative services to a broad customer base around the world, supporting all major aircraft families in the commercial aviation market. With 360 employees globally, Satair expects US$ 403 million of revenues and US$ 36 million of EBITDA in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, equally distributed in the United States, Asia and Europe.

Achieving a better balance between platforms and services is a key element of the EADS Vision 2020. Consistent with this strategy, this acquisition facilitates growth of Airbus’ Material Management division and is an opportunity to develop new services through the combined entity in both the civil and governmental markets. Completion of the offer will enable Airbus to capitalize on its own commercial network together with Satair’s offering and distribution capabilities in order to position itself as a leading global service and support provider for airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers (MROs).

Satair benefits from long-standing and privileged relationships with suppliers and customers thanks to their on time delivery record, combined with an innovative services offering. Leveraging Airbus’ industry knowledge and relationship and Satair’s highly scalable operating model, Satair will continue developing its world-renowned brand name as a standalone company within Airbus. Coordination with Airbus’ Material Management division will allow a full offering to the aviation industry.

Marwan Lahoud, EADS Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, stated: “This acquisition perfectly fits EADS’ Vision 2020 strategy by increasing the services business and our international presence. It is also an excellent investment opportunity for Airbus, as Satair has proven resilient during the financial crisis and has been able to show a continuous profitable growth. We see an accretive transaction for our shareholders through this synergistic acquisition. Further to the recent acquisition of Vector Aerospace, EADS is actively pursuing and delivering its growth service strategy through internal and external growth. Satair is a first step towards a one stop shop integrated offering in the Material Management activity, which is an essential part of EADS’ and Airbus’ Services Growth strategy to fulfil our Vision 2020”.

Didier Lux, Executive Vice President of Airbus Customer Services, said: “This acquisition is a logical step towards our vision to become one of the leading companies in integrated aftermarket services for our customers. Satair is a good strategic fit for Airbus thanks to its wide product and service range, established network of suppliers and customers, strong growth and proven financial track record. Leveraging Satair’s lean operating model and diversified product range with Airbus’ own parts distribution business, its supplier and customer relationships, and global footprint will help to further improve Satair’s growth perspectives and allow Satair to position itself among the world’s leaders in this market.”

After conducting a comprehensive structured auction process, the Board of Directors of Satair has entered into agreement with EADS for the acquisition of Satair. Under the agreement with Satair, Airbus has been granted the right to match any competing higher offer for Satair in the event any such proposal is announced. In addition, Satair’s shareholders representing approximately 16% of Satair’s shares have committed to accept the offer.

The offer values Satair’s outstanding share capital at DKK 2,488 million (US$ 483 million2). The offer represents a premium per share of Satair of 23.4% over the closing price on July 26th, 2011 and a premium of 94.3% over the closing price on March 28th, 2011, being the last trading day before Satair publicly announced that it had received unsolicited, non-committal inquiries from financial investors about a possible takeover of Satair. The offer values the company at a multiple of 13.9x EBITDA expected for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

The offer document and the offer advertisement will be published once approved by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. The voluntary tender offer will be subject to customary conditions for a public voluntary offer in Denmark, including acceptance threshold of more than 90 percent of all shares and warrants convertible into shares and necessary merger control and other regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed during the fall 2011.

Air Lease Corporation Leases Six New Airbus A321-200s to Thomas Cook

newsdesk@newsonnews.net (Newsdesk) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:00:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thomas Cook Airlines Limited, based in the U.K., has signed long term lease agreements with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) for six new Airbus A321-200s. These aircraft are from ALC’s order book from Airbus.

“We are delighted to include Thomas Cook as a key member of our growing customer base. Our management team has a long-standing relationship with the group and we are happy to support the renewal of their single-aisle fleet including A321-200s with sharklets. This decision will benefit Thomas Cook for years to come,” said Marc Baer, Executive Vice President of ALC.

The A321-200s are equipped with CFM56-B3/3 engines. Two of the aircraft will deliver in 2013, four in spring 2014.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL)

Launched in 2010, ALC is an aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline partners worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. For more information, visit ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com.

Contacts

Air Lease Corporation
Investors:
Ryan McKenna
Director, Strategic Planning and Investor Relations
rmckenna@airleasecorp.com
Media:
Laura St. John
Media and Investor Relations Coordinator
lstjohn@airleasecorp.com
Phone: 310.553.0555
Fax: 310.553.0999

Source: Air Lease Corporation

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110712007161/en

Goodrich Corp Aids in Historic US Airways Flight 1549 Arrival in Charlotte

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:17:50 +0000

Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) is a proud sponsor of the efforts underway for the final "arrival" of US Airways Flight 1549 to the Carolinas Aviation Museum.

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed the aircraft in the Hudson River on January 17, 2009 after reporting a double bird strike. All occupants, including 150 passengers, three flight attendants and two pilots, survived the event.

The historic "Miracle on the Hudson" aircraft began its four day journey from Harrison, New Jersey to the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina this past Saturday. The museum will host a reception to commemorate the arrival for sponsors and others involved in bringing the aircraft to Charlotte with Captain Sullenberger as speaker on June 11.

Goodrich was one of several early financial supporters of the efforts to bring the aircraft to Charlotte. Goodrich equipment on the Airbus A320 aircraft includes: primary and secondary flight controls, nacelle system and thrust reverser actuation, fuel injection systems, fuel management systems, power systems, wheels, brakes, air data systems, angle-of-attack and stall warning systems, ice detection systems, proximity sensing systems, security and surveillance systems, specialty heaters and cabin attendant seats. Goodrich supports these systems through its global aftermarket and MRO campus locations. The Airbus A320 aircraft is in service with airlines and other operators worldwide.

Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.

1 Billion Dollar Redevelopment Project at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport to Begin

travel@newsonnews.net (Travel Newsdesk) — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:36:40 +0000

Mayor Annise Parker and the Houston Airport System in partnership with United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today announced that construction on the first phase of the $1 billion redevelopment project at Bush Intercontinental Airport will begin by the end of the year.

Phase one of the three-phase project will create a new Terminal B south concourse dedicated to domestic regional jet operations.

In addition, United announced that it is extending its lease on Terminal C at Bush Intercontinental Airport to 2027.

Built in 1969 as one of the airport's two original terminals, Terminal B has reached its maximum capacity. The $161 million south concourse project will replace the existing south side flight stations with a 225,000 square foot facility to accommodate United's fleet of regional aircraft, allowing for both operational flexibility and a better customer experience by providing improved and expanded gate lounge space, concessions and restroom facilities.

The new Terminal B south concourse will feature:

A wide connecting bridge to a modern central passenger lounge
Spacious passenger lounge areas with ample concession choices, restroom facilities and expansive tarmac views
A high-efficiency boarding process that will allow for up to 30 flights to depart through three main boarding zones
Durable and modern interior finishes
A flexible gate layout that will accommodate aircraft today and in the future
A design that incorporates energy-efficient techniques using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria

"As the largest hub for the largest airline in the world, Bush Intercontinental is positioned to serve the world as United builds its global network," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. "Our airport serves as one of the most important economic engines in Houston and we are committed to expanding the portal to our global business connections."

"This project and the extension of our Terminal C lease to 2027 clearly demonstrate United's commitment to Houston and will help Houston maintain its status as an international city," said Jeff Smisek, United's president and CEO. "Houston is United's largest hub, and our investment will open opportunities for additional growth."

Plans for future phases of the $1 billion redevelopment project include:

Redevelopment of the central Terminal B lobby and baggage claim areas
A new international-capable north concourse for mainline and regional jet flights
A new Terminal B Federal Inspections Services (FIS) facility
Infrastructure improvements (which include improvements to existing roadway, signage, utilities and fuel-storage systems)

Construction of the entire redevelopment project is planned over the next seven to 10 years, with phase one expected to be completed in late 2013.

The Houston Airport System is partnering with United on the project, and the new construction will be a significant investment into the local economy by creating many jobs.

"Together, we serve millions of customers at an important international gateway and by investing in our infrastructure, we are ensuring that we may serve even more global passengers for many more years," said Mario Diaz, Houston Airport System Director of Aviation.