WHY AIRLINE CAPACITY TO CUBA IS FALLING OFF

PAGE 39

Rise of the
Machines
Airports
embrace
drone
technology

www.AviationPros.com August/September 2017

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airb_2-3_FordAd.indd 2 8/14/17 10:36 AM

airb_2-3_FordAd.indd 3 8/14/17 10:36 AM
 August/September 2017 CONTENTS

COVER STORY
28 Drones Take Flight at Airports
Drones have officially made it into airport operations and are poised to upend
the entire industry.

FEATURES
6 Modernizing Terminal Parking 24 
How to Tackle Waiting Times in 3D 39 Why Airline Capacity to Cuba is
and Customer Efficiency at the Falling Off
World’s Third-Busiest Airport 32 Air Travel in the Digital Age After one year of service from the
U.S. to Cuba, what challenges are
10 It’s Time to Talk 34 An App-etite For Travel facing these routes?
Communicating with passengers Concessionaires are turning to apps
can go a long way to improving the as a new way to draw in customers DEPARTMENTS
bottom line in airport retail sales. while improving the overall traveler 05 Inside the Fence
experience. 18 Washington Watch
14 Build a Better Traveler 42 Totally Boggus
Experience From All Angles 37 Customer-Driven Corporate
Hangar Helps Seed Company
22 
Fabric Structures Provide a Useful Grow Its Business SOCIALMEDIA
Option for Airplane Hangars The state-of-the-art facility helps FACEBOOK
Fabric structures offer the potential Beck’s Hybrids customize and refine facebook.com/AirportBusiness
to secure aircraft at a lower cost. its customer service. LINKEDIN TWITTER
linkedin.com/groups/1466267 @ABToday

4 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_4_ContentsDONE (1).indd 4 8/15/17 8:32 AM

 Published by SouthComm Business Media, Inc.
INSIDETHEFENCE Joe Petrie
Editor-in-Chief

PO Box 803 • 1233 Janesville Ave

Fort Atkinson WI 53538
920-563-6388 • 800-547-7377

VOL. 31, NO. 7

GROUP PUBLISHER: B
 rett Ryden
Brett@AviationPros.com
920-568-8338

A Change Now,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: J oe Petrie
Joe.Petrie@AviationPros.com
920-563-8370

to Change Later
SENIOR EDITOR: B
 enét Wilson
BWilson@AviationPros.com
443-838-7033

SALES

I
National Accounts Manager: M
 ichelle Kohn
800-547-7377 x3344
Michelle@AviationPros.com
’m not one for making guarantees. While we’ve not seen any concrete action
National Accounts Manager /
East Coast: Greg Szatko Before big sporting events, you’ll usually one way or another, there are reasons to be
262-473-9238
greg@AviationPros.com have at least one player guaranty of a win and cautiously optimistic. At the end of July, we
PRODUCTION when the game is over he’s either hounded saw federal proposals gain support from law-
Art Director: Rhonda Cousin by the press for promising something that he makers to remove the cap on the passenger
Production Manager: C armen Seeber
cseeber@southcomm.com couldn’t deliver on, or lauded as clairvoyant facility charge, allowing airports to take local
CIRCULATION ACC@ACC_HQ
Audience Development Manager: Debbie Dumke of unquestionable knowledge about the sport. control of their own vision.
Alaska Airlines Plans
SOUTHCOMM BUSINESS MEDIA Of course neither conclusion is real, but it And with a proposal to bolster the Airport
CEO: Chris Ferrell to Launch in 30 More
CFO: Bob Mahoney
makes good copy, so in the spirit of making Improvement Program (AIP) making its way Markets by 2018 |
COO: Blair Johnson guarantees, I am declaring this to you now — through the pipeline, there’s a sign the message http://bit.ly/2uQ3X-
VP, Production Operations: Curt Pordes
VP, Technology: Eric Kammerzelt I have no clue what is going to happen in our about the importance of our nation’s aviation MP
Executive Vice President: Gloria Cosby
VP Marketing: Gerry Whitty aviation system the rest of this year. infrastructure is getting through to leaders.
Director of Digital Business Development: Lester Craft
OK, not exactly a bold prediction, but this IATA@IATA
It’s more important than ever to keep the
List Rentals: Elizabeth Jackson We welcome global
email: ejackson@meritdirect.com year has been anything but predictable when pressure on Washington to pass legislation to standards to improve
phone: 847-492-1350 ext. 18 • fax: 847-492-0085 it comes to aviation: build better airports and improve the quality #safety & efficiency.
Subscription Customer Service • ATC privatization was viewed as a slam dunk,
877-382-9187; 847-559-7598
and safety of our aviation system. With all the Runway Anti- & de-ic-
Circ.AirportBusiness@omeda.com but here we are in August and the concept political noise hitting the nation from various ing standards official.
PO Box 3257 • Northbrook IL 60065-3257
is on life support. realms, it’s easy for aviation to be drowned out #@SAEIntl http://bit.
Article reprints • Brett Petillo
Wright’s Media 877-652-5295, ext. 118 • The new presidential administration came out and forgotten because other areas might be ly/2tRQ7bz
bpetillo@wrightsmedia.com
of the gate swinging hard at infrastructure more politically appealing. Keeping these issues
Airport Business (USPS 001-614), (ISSN 1072-1797 print; ISSN 2150- Long Beach Airport@
4539 online) is published 8 times per year in Feb/Mar, April, May, investment, yet here we are at the end of front and center with your community leaders LBAirport
Jun/Jul, Aug/Sep, October, November and Dec/Jan by SouthComm
Business Media, LLC. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI summer with no deal in sight. and citizens provides a louder voice to your fed- Keep an eye on our
53538 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Airport Business, PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065- • New security measures have changed several eral leaders and aids the industry associations feed for @virgin_or-
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times so far (and likely have again since I out there also fighting the good fight. bit’s #CosmicGirl at
addresses to: Airport Business, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
Subscriptions: Individual print subscriptions are available without wrote this). I have no idea what the status of these LGB! In the future,
charge to qualified subscribers in North America. Complimentary this @Boeing 747-400
digital subscriptions are available to qualified subscribers world • The infamous travel ban has been enforced, bills will be when you read this column, but
wide. Please visit www.aviationpros.com and click on “Subscribe”. will launch satellites
Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscriptions. then halted, then somewhat enforced, then I do know if we all don’t do our part to keep into space.
Subscription prices: U.S. $36 per year, $72 two year; Canada/
Mexico $62 per year, $108 two year; All other countries $88 per somewhat halted. our industry’s concerns on the front burner in
year, $165 two year. All subscriptions payable in U.S. funds, drawn
on U.S. bank. Canadian GST#842773848. Back issue $10 prepaid, • Self-driving car legislation and TNC regula- Washington, nothing is going to change.
if available. Printed in the USA. Copyright 2017 SouthComm
Business Media, LLC. tions are still up for debate. I guaranty it.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

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including photocopy, recordings or any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.
SouthComm Business Media, LLC does not assume and hereby
disclaims any liability to any person or company for any loss or
damage caused by errors or omissions in the material herein,
regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident
or any other cause whatsoever. The views and opinions in the
articles herein are not to be taken as official expressions of the
ffWhat’s Next? Exploring IoT & the Future of Airports ffFemale Aviation Professionals Are In Demand
publishers, unless so stated. The publishers do not warrant, either
expressly or by implication, the factual accuracy of the articles
The Internet of Things (IoT) will soon be the new WAI will mark the third annual Girls in Aviation Day
herein, nor do they so warrant any views or opinions offered by normal for airports around the world. Timely data is to reach aspiring aviators from ages 8 to 17. On Sept.
the authors of said articles.
critical to running a smart airport, as this information 23, chapters and corporate sponsors will hold events
can be continuously pushed out to guide passengers. for girls to learn more about aviation at airports.
www.AviationPros.com/12344744 www.AviationPros.com/12344774

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 5

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 PARKING By Mike Uldrich

Modernizing Terminal Parking and

Customer Efficiency at the
World’s Third-Busiest Airport
Strong planning contributed to upgrading parking facilities at DFW.

I
DFW’s goals for the design and construction
n 2011, Dallas Fort Worth International of the EPS project were to:
Airport embarked on a massive renova- • Provide passengers with a modern and
rewarding travel experience
tion project called Terminal Renewal and • Replace two aging, low-clearance, dimly lit
garages with one large, well-lit and efficient,
Improvement Program (TRIP) for the interior modern parking structure
• Utilize the latest parking technology to
and exterior renovation of three terminals – improve terminal operational efficiency
A, B and E. McCarthy Building Companies • Optimize passenger time spent searching
for available parking
was selected to construct a new 1.6-million- • Create a safe public space using lighting,
technology and a fire protection system eas-
square-foot Enhanced Parking Structure (EPS) ily accessible to DFW emergency personnel.
“The Terminal Renewal and Improvement
at Terminal E in conjunction with improvements Program is one of DFW’s investments for the
being made inside the terminal. The garage - with 3,963 future of the airport. These improvements make
DFW more competitive and customer friendly in
spaces - was designed to bring aesthetic improvements to an aging infrastructure and
increase parking availability, all while improving both the overall experience of passengers the global marketplace,” said Nate Smith, vice
and operational efficiency of the airlines. president for design, code and construction at

In 14 months, the McCarthy team turned over

Phase 1 of the EPS to the airport.
McCarthy Building Companies Inc.

6 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_6-9_ParkingMcCarthyDONE.indd 6 8/14/17 10:58 AM

 PARKING

DFW Airport. “The new parking structures are lot of thought, resources and employee training
critical components to the future of the airport.” into how to safely move the public around the
With 65 million passengers a year flowing job site and coordinate more than 350 person
through DFW and a track record for exem- workforce getting to and from the site daily.
plary customer service, airport executives McCarthy implemented traffic control plan-
challenged project planners to maintain ning, including coordination with multiple
seamless terminal operations and passenger contractors and airport departments involved
flow during construction. in separate terminal renovation projects to
properly prepare for thousands of deliveries,
TRAVELING PUBLIC ON ALL crane lifts and concrete pours while minimiz-
FOUR SIDES ing disturbance to public traffic. Due to the
About 10,000 people travel through Terminal tight site, the company planned for off-site
E daily. The EPS was a two-year, phased con- staging and just-in-time delivery of materi- Due to the limited site access and the
struction project with a scope including remov- als. It used tower cranes with the capacity potential safety issues that traffic
al of existing roadways, construction of new to reach over adjoining roadways and pick presented, McCarthy put a lot of thought,
bridges and utilities, and demolition of existing materials from the off-site yard and off-load resources and employee training into how
garage before new garage construction could trucks and fly materials into the site. Crews to safely move the public around the job
begin — all to happen in the middle of this conducted round the clock demolition and haul site as well as coordinate 350-plus person
traffic flow. off of materials but limited work adjacent to workforce getting to and from the site
Due to the limited site access and potential and over the top of roadways to a three-hour each day. McCarthy Building Companies Inc.
safety issues traffic presented, planners put a nightshift window.

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www.aviationpros.com/10132415

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 7

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airb_6-9_ParkingMcCarthyDONE.indd 8 8/14/17 10:58 AM
 PARKING

The activity and equipment in a construction When Phase 1 was open to the public, McCarthy
zone tend to pique the public’s curiosity. To minimize noticed needed improvements on the design which
the distractions that a construction zone can present would allow for drivers to more safely enter/exit the
to drivers and pedestrians, we hung dust barriers garage. The airport agreed with the modification
around the site to limit the public’s view. We also recommendations and added it in Phase 1 and imple-
placed barricades on upper and lower terminal roads mented them in Phase 2.
to serve as delineation for public traffic. “DFW and McCarthy partnered on design chang-
McCarthy worked to minimize the impacts on the es early in Phase 2 that would improve the driver
driving public including limiting road closures to 60 experience and are pleased that these changes did
seconds but only in between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The not affect the timeline and cost,” said Smith.
company employed the use of soil nail wall excava- Thirteen months later, the remaining 1,800 park-
tions to prevent the constriction of public roadways ing spaces of the EPS was complete, coinciding with
and subsequent traffic back-ups. No customer wants the completed renovations in Terminal E.
to be delayed on the way to catch their flight, so this
was always at the forefront of construction planning. MODERN GARAGE DESIGN FOR
Safety on job sites is the top priority for the EPS CUSTOMER EFFICIENCY
project, and that extended to the traveling public. Terminal E now boasts a modern parking structure with
There were no incidents with the public at the job a Helix Access Ramp and parking guidance system
site during the two-and-half-year project. that optimizes customers’ time and airport operations.
“The Terminal EPS crew went out of their way The Helix Access Ramp system has proven to
to ensure public safety as they drove and walked be one of the most efficient design features of the
through construction to get into the terminal. EPS, as it relates to minimizing customer travel time.
Passengers were able to get to their flights with little Comprised of two five-story cast-in-place,
feedback to the airport and that is highly unusual,” post-tensioned concrete ramps that intertwine, the
said Bobby Rodriquez, assistant vice president Code, Helix structure is essentially a series of three-di-
Construction and Survey, DFW. “Further, McCarthy mensional traffic circles, with vehicles yielding to
had the best safety rates out of the three terminal ramp traffic at each level before entering the Helix to
construction sites.” access another level of the EPS. This design limits
the vertical pathway for vehicles to a much smaller
SCHEDULE CERTAINTY footprint than conventional parking garage ramps
TRIP construction milestones were set in stone. The use of the Helix system ensures a steady
Completion of each phase of the project had to be flow of passenger traffic and eliminates ‘traffic jams.’
concurrent with terminal renovations of correspond- The EPS features a parking guidance system
ing airline gates. This ensured passengers could still which assists passengers in navigating to available
park adjacent to their terminal gates.This left the parking spaces. A collaborative network of real-time
company with a little more than two years to com- overhead indicator lights and digital signage directs
plete the $100 million project. Per the plan, McCarthy vehicles to the closest available space.
fast tracked the job with a six-day work week with
double shifts each day. They also implemented “pull Read more at www.AviationPros.com/
scheduling” to organize subcontractors as well as 12353949
used week-by-week logistic plans to schedule dif-
ferent kinds of work that coincided with each other.
We experienced 40 days of rain delay in Phase 1. ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
There was not room in the schedule for weather so Mike Uldrich
we got smart – we brought in larger drainage piping, Project Director, McCarthy
Mike Uldrich is a project director for
pumped water out of the site, used a special fill that
McCarthy’s Texas division and leads
let us get back to work faster after rain and sped up design-build, privately financed projects,
concrete pour cycles. specifically providing parking garage
In 14 months, the team turned over Phase 1 of the solutions to clients within sectors such
EPS to the airport. This section of the garage offered as Aviation, Municipalities and Higher
2,000 parking spaces for passengers traveling through Education. Uldrich is a 23-year McCarthy “lifer” who studied
Terminal E. It also provided a 12-month start on park- Architectural Engineering at University of Texas, Austin,
focusing on Construction Management.
ing revenue while Phase 2 of construction continued.

www.aviationpros.com/10132772

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 9

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 OPERATIONS By Mignon Buckingham

It’s Time to Talk

Communicating with passengers can go a long way to improving the
bottom line in airport retail sales.

C
ollecting the right passenger data, and
using it to communicate effectively
and in a timely and appropriate way
is key to building better relationships
between airports and passengers. Not
only can improved communication
help to secure longer term loyalty, but it can also
increase passenger engagement and drive higher
spend. But when it comes to communication many airports and their passengers are not
on the same page or even the same planet and to channel the famous 90s relationship guide,
airports could be said to be from Mars, while their passengers are from Venus. Here are some
suggestions on how to improve the relationship between airports and the people who matter
most to them – their passengers.
The airport is evolving from somewhere that significantly smaller 68 percent of passengers
has to be tolerated in order to travel, into a loca- agreed with that sentiment.
tion where people actually want to spend time. However, when we look at the more experi-
In a new study, conducted by ICLP, more than ential elements, the picture is reversed. While,
half (53 percent) of passengers said the airport nearly half (48 percent) of passengers were
was an enjoyable part of the journey. And yet interested in a choice of food and drink outlets,
while passengers are more likely than ever to none of the airports taking part in the survey
treat the airport as “the start of their journey,” put this among their top considerations. The
airports still see themselves as a functional part situation is similar when it comes to a good
of getting travelers from A to B, rather than choice of retail outlets. Well over a third of
as an active part of the emotionally engaging passengers (38 percent) say that this is a top
experiences that passengers seek. concern, but only 3 percent of airports agree.
Our research shows that airports tend to Though the importance of non-aeronautical
overestimate the importance of operational revenue is clear, it’s also evident that by not
features, failing to appreciate that giving their understanding the real needs and motivations
passengers a memorable experience can make of their passengers, many airports could be
a huge difference when it comes to choosing leaving potential revenue on the table.
one airport over another. For example, while This revenue can be substantial, but it
97 percent of airports rated proximity to home shouldn’t be taken for granted. Figures released
or office as an important priority for travelers, in May from a study commissioned by Tax Free
only 66 percent of passengers felt the same. World Association showed that total global duty
Similarly, 83 percent of airports said cost of free and travel retail sales at airports grew to
transport to the airport was a factor, but a $36.2 billion – a significant sum. However, this

10 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 AirIT Becomes Amadeus
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airb_10-13_OperationsDataDONE.indd 11 8/14/17 11:01 AM

 OPERATIONS

is a relatively modest 1.9 percent increase on A significant

23 PERCENT
the previous year’s figure. Drilling further down
into the data confirms that there is definitely
no room for complacency. It was only strong
growth of 9.1 percent in the Asia Pacific region,
that tipped the global figure into the positive,
of passengers say they never receive any information from the
and in all other regions sales declined. The airport at all, and of these,
retail pie, it would appear, is in many cases
getting smaller and airports have to work even
harder to get a bigger slice. Understanding
65 PERCENT
say they were never given the chance to subscribe to it.
what customers really want — and then deliv-
ering it — is vital if airports are to make the
best of this essential revenue stream. 38 percent say that the communications they boarding pass details from retailers when pas-
receive encourage them to spend more time sengers make a purchase. This again is par-
COMMUNICATION IS KEY at the airport. This is despite the fact that 45 ticularly concerning in light of the fact that 86
One way airports can boost this revenue is by percent of passengers stated that they would percent of passengers say they would be willing
improving the way they communicate with spend more if they received offers or discounts to share personal information and flight details
passengers. But again, our research shows that in advance of traveling. in exchange for benefits such as discounts.
there is something of a mismatch in this area. When airports do collect data, they rarely
While 83 percent of passengers say that they TIMING IS EVERYTHING use it to maximum effect, with just 45 percent
would like to receive updates about departure Of course, any communication needs to be of airports saying they use the information they
and arrival times, only 58 percent of airports are timely but the good news is that passengers collect in their marketing campaigns and a
providing this information. At the same time, are keen to hear from airports at all stages of shocking 23 percent confessing that they don’t
89 percent of airports are sending details and their journey. Fifty-five percent of passengers use it at all.
promotions about airport parking, however only stated that they would like to receive informa-
31 percent of passengers are actually interested tion on the day of travel, 47 percent would like THE SECRET OF COMMERCIAL
in receiving this information. to receive information at any time after booking SUCCESS
A significant 23 percent of passengers say a flight and 25 percent would like to receive On the high-street, many retailers are taking
they never receive any information from the information when at the airport. Eleven percent steps to collect and use data from their custom-
airport at all and of these, 65 percent say they are even happy to receive information when ers to improve their communications. In order
were never given the chance to subscribe to it. they have passed through security. to be commercially successful, airports need to
Only around four in 10 of passengers say they adopt similar strategies. An airport’s non-aero-
feel encouraged to engage more with airports GETTING PERSONAL nautical revenue’s growth depends on starting
by the communications they receive, with just Like any conversation, it’s difficult for commu- a conversation with each and every traveler,
41 percent saying they receive discounts and nication with a passenger to be relevant unless collecting the right data from that conversation
offers that encourage them to shop or dine. Only it’s personal. Where airports have invested in and using it intelligently to really understand
passenger communication, there has been a who passengers are and what they want from
clear direction towards mass communication their time at the airport. Only then can airports
The retail pie, it would appear, channels, with 83 percent of airports saying begin to unlock longer-term loyalty and maxi-
they communicate via social media. This com- mize engagement and spend.
is in many cases getting smaller bined with the fact that a significant number
and airports have to work (54 percent) of airports said they didn’t use indi-
vidual passenger data to personalize commu-
even harder to get a bigger nications suggests that airports do not really ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
know their passengers. Mignon Buckingham
slice. Understanding what This inevitably makes the personalization Mignon Buckingham is Managing
of communications harder and yet again, many
customers really want - and airports are missing a trick with few making
Director of ICLP, a global, full service
agency specialising in loyalty mar-
then delivering it – is vital if the best of the data at their disposal. All of the keting and customer relationship
management. She has responsibility
airports surveyed give passengers free access
airports are to make the best of to public Wi-Fi but only 48 percent collect data for 600 staff in 16 offices across Europe, Middle East,
Africa, USA, South America and Asia Pacific, who cre-
from passengers logging on to that network.
this essential revenue stream. Similarly, under a third (32 percent) collect
ate more loyal and profitable relationships for clients.

12 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_10-13_OperationsDataDONE.indd 12 8/14/17 11:02 AM

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airb_10-13_OperationsDataDONE.indd 13 8/15/17 9:35 AM

 TRAVELEREXPERIENCE By Joe Petrie

Build a Better Traveler

Experience From All Angles
Building a better passenger experience means integrating technology and
concessions while placing traveler needs when and where they want them.

F
or leaders at the Houston Airport BUILD A BETTER EXPERIENCE
Pat Askew, principal and leader of the global
System, getting millions of travelers aviation practice for HKS, said airports need
through George Bush Intercontinental to take cues from the hospitality industry to
deliver a customer-centric model.
Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby “The hospitality industry, especially the
higher end you go in the hospitality industry,
Airport (HOU) each year can be a chal- the more focused they are on the customers,” he
said. “Since airports are really part of the travel
lenge. Travelers have to navigate the experience it seems to make sense that hospi-
facilities and find their ways to the gates, which tality really finds its way into airport terminals
and doesn’t just stay in the hotels or the resorts.”
creates a stressful start to a trip and seeds neg- Askew said terminals need to be less insti-
tutional and more like a high end hotel. The
ative connotations about an airport. colors, lighting, natural lighting and building
In July, Houston launched a wayfinding “We realized that we were really filling a materials can make the terminal feel high end
system within the airports’ websites, so trav- need,” said Kathleen Boyd, head of marketing and less like a large bus terminal.
elers know where they’re going as soon as they for the Houston Airport System. “We also had Customer service needs to play just as
park their car. done some research on the hierarchy of needs of big of a role in the high end experience, he
passengers where three out of the top 10 items added, so getting employees on the same
had to do with wayfinding.” mindset from the Transportation Security
Many airports and airlines use apps to pro- Administration (TSA) checkpoint, to the
vide wayfinding, but it can be a challenge to get shops and restaurants, and the airlines are
people to download and use them, Boyd said. all important to make sure the travelers have
“We’ve really been on a mission to come a seamless positive experience with staff.
up with website or browser-based wayfind- Technology plays a big part in improving
ing and we were fortunate enough to meet the journey through the facility as well, Askew
up with LocusLabs, who was working on the said. Allowing passengers to access informa-
same project,” she said. tion about their flights and options within the
The wayfinding allows travelers to find their terminal with proper wayfinding creates a
gate and search restaurants and concessions. positive experience as someone makes their
An estimated time to reach the destination is way to the gate.
also included as part of the system. Creating alerts for passengers at the air-
Boyd said the airports will utilize different ports about special deals on food or sales sent
ways to get travelers to engage in the tech- to their phones provide more access to infor-
The Houston Airport System implemented nology using the JC Decaux digital signage mation. Sending information to their phones
wayfinding in its website so travelers to inform travelers about the technology while about when and where baggage will arrive can
don’t need to download an app. upgrading other aspects of terminal wayfinding also improve the experience by taking away
Houston Airport System
to keep passengers happy. anxiousness from passengers.

14 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 EXPERIENCE THE

OF TERMINAL DESIGN

/ PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

T3 MODERNIZATION

ARCHITECTURE · INTERIOR DESIGN · CORGAN.COM

BEIJING · DALLAS · HONG KONG · HOUSTON · LOS ANGELES · NEW YORK · ORLANDO · PHOENIX · SAN FRANCISCO · SINGAPORE

airb_14-17_TravelerExperienceDONE.indd 15 8/15/17 9:41 AM

 TRAVELEREXPERIENCE

Askew said airports with more flexibility in

lease lines and can allow integration of shops
and restaurants with the gate hold areas, creat-
ing a much more lounge-like atmosphere. A BETTER TRAVELER
Ben Zandi, president and CEO of Fraport
USA, said by 2020 more than 50 percent of the EXPERIENCE FOR PETS TOO
U.S. population will be millennials, Generation
Y and Generation X.
“They prefer transactions to be quick,
WITH more pets and service dogs making their way through airports,
the emphasis on a creating a better traveler experience is no
longer just for human travelers.
convenient and with integrity,” Zandi said. The Ark at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) took steps to enhance its service to
“And they have a very particular pallet. They traveling pets with the opening of AirHeart Pet Hospital in June, giving animals access to medical
know what they want and convenience is very care and emergency services.
important to them.” John B. Payne, president and CEO of Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, which runs the facility,
Zandi said Fraport works with local restau- said the developers of the Ark outlined their vision of the facility and the importance of having
rants in communities connected to the airport an animal hospital at the facility.
to find ways to draw them into the concessions. “There’s a number of pets that go on and
A popup program can be very economically off planes every day that sometimes are in need
friendly to local operators, from an investment and we’re happy we’re there for them,” he said.
and income perspective, Zandi said. Travelers coming through the airport with their
“As you can see, the trend around the coun- service dog or pet can contact the animal hos-
try with food trucks in metropolitan cities has pital if they notice an issue and Payne said they
taken off because economically it makes sense will send transportation to pick them up or via
for the owner/operator,” Zandi said. “We’re try- Pet Oasis at the terminal.
ing to bring the same concept to the airports.” Besides health checkups, Payne said the
hospital can provide health certificates for
KEEP TECHNOLOGY IN MIND pets going over seas on-site, which many
Ron Gazzola, senior vice president for commer- travelers forget.
cial display, Samsung Electronics America, “It’s a wonderful value and service to the
said outdoor digital signage and LED technol- pet-owning public who value their pets as part Travelers coming through JFK with
ogy means airports can use technology in new of their family and they want to provide an their service dog or pet can contact
ways to serve customers. experience for those pets that are probably the animal hospital if they notice an
“The technology, it really allows the design- afraid and in this case, we’re able to handle issue. Compassion-First Pet Hospitals
ers, the IT team to come together and think them properly and calm them down and be
very differently about how they can use space, friendly to them versus just another piece of baggage,” Payne said. “People want this so the
what they can use that space for when tradi- value of this and this terminal I think once people learn about it, it will be very popular.”
tionally it might have been just pure advertis- It helps ensure animal welfare while traveling as well because there are trained professionals
ing,” he said. on-site rather than people used to handling baggage, Payne said.
Samsung sees a move from large video “If I were boarding my cat or my dog, certainly I’d want a veterinary hospital steps away
walls to LED technology. rather than a drive away simply because it’s an insurance policy,” Payne said. “They get sick
“The reason we’re seeing this be more rel- or get injured, they can be seen immediately and oftentimes time matters when it comes to
evant is we’re at a point that the technology is health concerns.”
very advantageous for people wanting to invest
and it’s also giving the airports a huge opportu-
nity in terms of advertising revenues,” he said. “I think they’re realizing that you can’t go Logan International Airport (BOS) and John
Samsung is working with Hertz to deploy down a very simple route because you real- F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to pro-
outdoor signage for their gold member custom- ly have to take into consideration who is the vide a wayfinding using kiosks and boarding
ers to create a custom meet and greet. traveler,” he said. passes.
“Someone going to park their car, outdoor Tomer Mann, senior vice president of global “In a manner of seconds, they know where
signage is going to create a more convenient sales and operations for 22Miles, said airports they’re going and they’ve already been able to
way for those customers to get information and need information to be taken by travelers via a identify places they can go to eat or
access information,” he said. mobile device, such as texting directions, QR to enjoy or relax,” he said.
Bryan Meszaros, CEO & founder of OpenEye code, email, or even a full mobile app. Read more: www.AviationPros.com/
Global, said wayfinding is key to amenities. OpenEye worked with Westfield at Boston 12345362

16 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_14-17_TravelerExperienceDONE.indd 16 8/15/17 9:47 AM

 Better you hear it from us

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airb_14-17_TravelerExperienceDONE.indd 17 8/14/17 11:03 AM

 WASHINGTONWATCH By Kevin Burke, ACI-NA President & CEO

Turning Up the Volume

on Airport Priorities

A
irports are a fundamental part of our that the airport industry is its own best advo-
cate. And the industry’s unified position is
nation’s infrastructure. America’s helping to achieve real results.
airports generate more than $1.1 One thing we have continually heard from
policy makers comes back to the industry’s
trillion in annual activity and sup- ability to articulate its real needs. To assist in
that effort, we released our latest airport infra-
port nearly 10 million jobs. But, structure needs study earlier this year, which
America’s airports have almost noted nearly $20 billion annually in airport
infrastructure needs to renovate tired terminals
$100 billion in infrastructure projects that must and runways, relieve congestion and delays,
improve safety and security, and spur new
be undertaken to help airports maintain their airline competition that will lower airfares for
passengers. The policy solution to addressing
leadership in the global aviation system. these infrastructure needs is letting airports
Over the last few months, ACI-NA and oth- policies that strengthen the ability of airports of all sizes make their own investment deci-
ers have turned up the volume on our signifi- to serve their passengers and communities. We sions by eliminating the outdated cap on the
cant infrastructure needs as Congress consid- do that important work by bringing our airport Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and main-
ers several key pieces of legislation that could members to the table and amplifying their voic- taining a strong Airport Improvement Program
help ensure a modern and competitive airport es so the industry can be heard on Capitol Hill. (AIP). Our airport members continue to play a
industry. ACI-NA’s mission is to advocate for As a member driven organization, we know vital role in helping us communicate the sto-

18 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_18-21_WashingtonWatchDONE.indd 18 8/14/17 11:05 AM

 One Brand – Bright Choices
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airb_18-21_WashingtonWatchDONE.indd 19 8/14/17 11:05 AM

 WASHINGTONWATCH

ries and challenges of airports to key congres- (21st Century AIRR Act), the proposal focuses misses a significant opportunity to tackle the
sional stakeholders on Capitol Hill. mainly on privatizing air traffic control. real challenge of aging airport infrastructure
The importance of this work could Unfortunately, Chairman Shuster’s proposal and advance all airports’ ability to serve their
not be more timely. In the U.S. House doesn’t do anything to solve our airport infra- passengers and communities.
of Representatives, Transportation and structure challenges, and that’s why ACI-NA In the U.S. Senate, Commerce Committee
Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill has opposed it. Airports have documented Chairman John Thune has introduced his own
Shuster has put forward his FAA reauthorization infrastructure needs and the future of our avi- FAA reauthorization proposal, the Federal
proposal. Known as the 21st Century Aviation ation system requires modernization in the air Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act.
Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act and on the ground. The 21st Century AIRR Act While this bill includes more airport priorities

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20 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_18-21_WashingtonWatchDONE.indd 20 8/14/17 4:14 PM

 WASHINGTONWATCH

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
Kevin M. Burke

Kevin M. Burke, is President and CEO of Airports Council Interna-

tional – North America.

BUILDING SOLUTIONS...
On budget, on schedule, on target...
than its House counterpart, it misses a significant opportunity
to provide sustainable, long-term funding options that address
the infrastructure needs of airports. We remain committed to
working with the Senate leaders to ensure airport funding pri-
orities are part of any long term FAA reauthorization bill.
While these FAA proposals are not likely to move forward
in the coming weeks, our fight is far from over. In a major vic-
tory for airports, the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2018 Transportation,
Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD)
Appropriations Act would raise the PFC user fee cap to $8.50
and increase funding for the AIP. This is the first bill that puts
real action behind the infrastructure rhetoric by providing sus- Cost-efficient building solutions from Varco Pruden
tainable funding streams to help airports of all sizes upgrade Buildings provide attractive and affordable structures for:
their facilities, attract new air service, and improve the pas-
• hangars • flight based operations
senger experience.
While only time will tell how these bills play out in Congress, • cargo facilities • aircraft maintenance
ACI-NA remains optimistic. With the leadership of our airport
members, we have made tremendous strides in getting Congress With our value-engineered steel framed building systems,
as a whole to listen to airports of all sizes as they advocate for sus- recycled material content and long-life “cool paint” choices,
tainable funding to meet critical infrastructure needs. However,
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August/September 2017 airportbusiness 21

airb_18-21_WashingtonWatchDONE.indd 21 8/14/17 11:06 AM

 GENERALAVIATION By Amanda Williams

Fabric Structures Provide

a Useful Option for
Airplane Hangars
Fabric structures offer the potential to secure aircraft at a lower cost.

F
lying is an expensive sport and busi- structures can be implemented for any number of
purposes, like covering for luggage transportation,
ness, and making sure aircraft are safe holding flight passengers and repairing aircraft.
Private aircraft owners who don’t fly often may
from nasty weather and secure for need to store an aircraft for an extended amount
passengers requires a dependable and of time, but regardless of particular aviation needs,
aviators count on innovative engineering in every
affordable structure. When you can’t aspect of their business. When choosing buildings
for aircraft and airfields, these structures provide
be in the clouds, keep your wings cov- industry-leading innovation.
ered and consider the worthwhile investment of With materials that can be designed to fit any
customized building needs, fabric structures are
a fabric structure. suitable for any aviation business or private owner
and come at a fraction of the cost and time spent
Fabric structures help dozens of indus- demands. These buildings provide versatile, on traditional buildings. Fabric buildings come
tries protect their materials and operations for durable and spacious solutions to business chal- with a clear advantage for the aviation industry.
an affordable price and minimal construction lenges and for folks in the aviation industry, fabric

Because fabric hangars are lighter than

traditional materials they don’t need
to have center posts to support
the roof structure.
Clearspan

22 airportbusiness August/September 2017

airb_22-23_GeneralAviationDONE.indd 22 8/15/17 10:15 AM

 GENERALAVIATION

VERSATILITY

Clearspan
There are many applications for fabric struc-
tures in the aviation business. Individual air-
craft owners, fixed-base operators, regional
airports and international airports can meet
aviation industry building needs with a fabric
structure. Uses range from luggage inspec-
tion shelters, vehicle inspection shelters and
passenger holding spaces, to sizeable aircraft
hangars or terminals. Fabric structures are
adaptable to any environment and can be used
across every climate. Furthermore, these struc-
tures serve all sizes of aircraft or any airport
need, making them versatile structures for an
industry with many requirements.

FABRIC COVERS
Because many aircraft are concentrated along
the coast where conditions or seasonal chang-
es are unfavorable for proper airplane upkeep,
aviation always requires close monitoring of the
environment. This makes fabric structures an
ideal solution to airplane storage challenges. SPACIOUS INTERIOR locations, which means there is no need to pour
Protecting aircraft from the elements in most The frame of these structures is made of tri- a foundation and customers can often times
regions will be something important to con- ple-galvanized steel and the weight of the avoid costly permits.
sider. Their qualities of durability and weath- building is distributed effectively with a Constructing these structures takes a
er safety provide fabric buildings with a long, truss-arch design, creating a clearspan inte- fraction of the time that traditional buildings
low-maintenance life, and owners are able to rior. There are no support beams in the way take to build. Conventional buildings can take
maintain a constantly controlled environment. of the floor or ceiling space. This means that months to construct. In contrast, fabric struc-
Fabric covers are tested to withstand with a fabric building, there is more cubic feet tures can take only a number of days from start
heavy snow loads and high winds. The fabric coverage all around. A spacious overhead and to completion, and this is largely due to the
material protects the contained aircraft from no inconvenient interior support columns allow limited foundation requirements.
extreme heat and simultaneously allows natural facilities to effectively store any size aircraft in Some companies offer the option for a
light into the building, which can drastically a clean environment. The wide open interior of Helical Anchoring System. The system uti-
reduce the electrical costs of artificial light- a fabric structure ensures maximum useable lizes a number of large, metal anchors that drill
ing. Because the interior of a fabric structure space for mechanical and maintenance crews. directly into the ground. When using this foun-
does not allow in oppressive summer heat, the Furthermore, this interior makes it remarkably dation, there is absolutely no need for poured
temperature remains comfortable no matter the easier to maneuver any size aircraft without concrete. One of the best parts of opting for
climate. The low costs of fabric buildings chal- damaging the structure or other equipment. this system is that it allows the structure to be
lenge the high costs of traditional buildings. Endwalls and sidewalls are customizable for built in places that it normally wouldn’t be able
Not only do traditional building materials cost easy access in and out of the hangar. to. It nearly eliminates excavation and allows
more, but repairs each season can make the for the structure to be built much quicker.
costs of owning buildings extremely high. STURDY FOUNDATION OPTIONS All of these characteristics make a fabric
These fabric-covered buildings are made of Fabric structures come with a variety of foun- structure an easy, spacious and cost-effective
domestic materials and can be customized to dational options that range from temporary to choice for any aviation building need. Customers
meet any need. Choosing a fabric structure for permanent, but are all strong enough to with- enjoy the ease with which these structures are
aviation needs provides owners with a much stand the weight of an aircraft. The buildings’ built and their versatility and strength while in
more sustainable option than repairing and temporary option makes it simple to expand or use. The building process is simple
rebuilding broken-down hangars. move an operation. Fabric structures are easi- from beginning to end.
Aesthetically speaking, fabric buildings ly and quickly erected and their materials are
have a contemporary and clean look that is more cost-effective than standard buildings. Read more: www.AviationPros.com/
impressive from the outside, but the inside is With various foundation options, some fabric 12337890
where the magic happens. building companies adapt to any desired hangar Contributed by Amanda Williams

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 23

airb_22-23_GeneralAviationDONE.indd 23 8/15/17 10:15 AM

 TECHNOLOGYMATTERS By Marc Rauch

How to Tackle
Waiting Times in
Waiting times interfere with both the
reputation and the revenues of airports. Seeking
passenger flow monitoring systems to keep
up with increasingly sophisticated customer
expectations, airports can choose from a broad range of technologies.

L
ong waiting times make airports installation and maintenance efforts, accuracy,
reliability and scalability:
look bad and upset passengers. Even • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: Depending on passengers
having Wi-Fi/Bluetooth enabled on their
worse, long queues make airports smartphones or other devices, these fea-
tures can be used to estimate waiting times.
lose money. According to the study Usually, sample rates of such systems are
“Rise to Challenge – The Risks and rather low, since only a fraction of the enabled
devices can be detected.
Oppor tunities of Digitization for • Infrared: At the start and end of a designated
queuing area passengers are counted when
Airports,” from Roland Berger, a five-minute crossing a threshold and thereby breaking
delay for 25 percent of passengers at the security a beam of light from a sensor. The waiting
time is measured based on the number of
checkpoint could induce a drop in retail sales of passengers in between.
• Thermal cameras: Thermal cameras measure
2 to 3 percent. People that wait more, spend less. waiting times based on heat emitted by pas-
Cutting average security waiting time by one minute may entail higher revenues of $1.5 to sengers. Since thermal cameras detect heat
$2.3 million, as Passenger Flow Terminal reported on a case study of passenger flows conduct- in general, measurements are prone to error.
ed at Toronto Pearson International Airport in the fierce competition is an accurate and • Conventional video based systems: A specif-
September 2016. This correlation also applies to reliable system to measure waiting times. ic software processes the video output from
smaller and mid-size airports. Federico Cabrera, In recent years, the array of technologies to conventional cameras and calculates the
CCO at Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco address the issue has expanded along with waiting time. Using already existing cam-
in Montevideo, Uruguay said, “Shortly after we the awareness of the problem. Many different eras, installation is simple but can interfere
had installed a 3D stereo vision based system names are used to describe technologies to with other video based applications and
to measure waiting times, we could optimize measure waiting times, such as queue mea- increase the total lifetime costs considerably
staff planning and hence reduce waiting times surement systems, passenger flow analysis due to the required network and computing
at security checkpoint. This led to a remarkable and people flow monitoring. Typically, all the capacities. As with all technologies based on
increase in retail sales of up to $10,000 in just available technologies count people in the two-dimensional images (monovision), bright
three hours.” relevant area (e.g., at security checkpoint or sunlight, shadows, and other external influ-
even in check-in/ticketing areas) and measure ences negatively affect the accuracy.
A RANGE OF TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS their dwell times and an algorithm calculates • 2D sensors: Typically mounted on the ceiling,
The fundament to tackle waiting times, lever- the resulting waiting times. The differences 2D sensors have a built-in camera (monovi-
age customer satisfaction and keep up with between the various approaches lie in cost, sion). The sensor differs from regular CCTV

24 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 TECHNOLOGYMATTERS

cameras by directly processing the image on the sensor itself to count and requires both considerable network and computing capacity, which
people and measure the dwell time. Thus, network load and required increases total lifetime costs significantly. 2D sensors enable direct
server capacity is significantly reduced. Additional software combines image processing, but feature the same accuracy/ reliability short-com-
various sensors to cover large areas and to measure the waiting time. ings attributed to monovision per se and only satisfy the requirements
As with all monovision technologies, light changes, shadows and other in well lighted environments. Systems based on 3D sensors deliver the
external influences negatively affect the accuracy. most complete package, when it comes to measuring waiting times
• 3D sensors: Typically mounted on the ceiling, 3D sensors
have two inbuilt cameras (stereovision) to calculate a 3D
depth image. Software on the sensor performs the image
processing directly on the sensor to count people and mea-
sure the dwell time. Additional software combines various
sensors to cover large areas and to measure the waiting time.
3D sensors are more robust against light changes, shadows
etc. than 2D cameras.

HOW TO PICK THE MOST SUITABLE TECHNOLOGY?

So, there is a long list of technologies and suppliers for airports
to choose from. How and based on which criteria should an
airport keen to measure waiting times and related key perfor-
mance indicators (KPIs) pick the most suitable solution for the

LEADERSHIP
company’s aims?
Basically, the level of required sophistication determines the
technology. A rather small, only seasonally busy airport may
get by with a rather simple technology such as Wi-Fi/Bluetooth,

IN AVIATION
infrared sensors, or thermal cameras. Waiting times measured
with Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth technology are more kind of an estimate
as opposed to a measurement, since they only detect enabled
devices. There are new technologies such as “MAC random-
ization” that aim at preventing devices from being detected,
which further questions this approach.
Large, busy international airports ought to opt for a more
high-tech, optical solution. This assumption is in line with some
trends that are likely to dominate the airport industry in the next
20 years. The passenger of tomorrow expects an impeccable
expectation management via real-time data through all chan-
nels. Additionally, the International Air Transport Association
(IATA) expects 7.2 billion passengers to travel in 2035. This
equals almost a doubling of the 3.8 billion air travelers in 2016.

ACCURACY GAP BETWEEN DIFFERENT OPTICAL SYSTEMS

Optical systems seem to have an edge over other technologies.
Only optical solutions enable users to constantly receive real- TOP LEFT: San Diego International Airport Terminal, California I RIGHT: Salt Lake City International Airport’s End of Runway Deicing Program, Utah
BOTTOM LEFT: Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport Terminal, Kansas I RIGHT: United Terminal at LAX, California
time data along with live views of the relevant areas. But not
every optical technology meets the expectations to the same
degree: conventional video camera based approaches arise from
HNTB has a long history of successfully delivering a wide
the desire to combine existing video cameras with video ana- range of projects — including terminals and runways — to
lytics software and hence avoid investments in new equipment. the largest airports in the country. We are pleased to aid
our clients’ success with award-winning design, program
But they fall short of the required accuracy and reliability, as the management and planning services. The HNTB Companies
image processing in monovision, i.e. one camera, is limited per Infrastructure Solutions

se. For example, if a passenger stands closely in front of anoth- hntb.com

Laddie Irion
er passenger form the camera’s perspective, only one person National Aviation Market Sector Leader
(813) 498-5125
instead of two are counted and the waiting time is distorted.
Furthermore, the image processing occurs on external devices

www.aviationpros.com/10742068

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 25

airb_24-27_TechnologyDONE.indd 25 8/15/17 10:26 AM

 Join 27,000 industry professionals for the most
important three days of business aviation, with
over 1,100 exhibitors, 2 static displays of aircraft –
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airb_24-27_TechnologyDONE.indd 26 8/15/17 10:26 AM

 TECHNOLOGYMATTERS

at highly frequented and complex airport sites 3D sensors are independent from sig-
with demanding passengers. nal-emitting devices and highly robust against
external influences, such as shadows, light
A 3D SYSTEM IN ACTION changes and heat emissions. Numerous tests
A glimpse at a practical example sheds light have substantiated the accuracy of the system.
on the question why 3D sensors based system Accurately measured waiting times are a pow-
achieve the highest level of accuracy, reliabil- erful tool to optimize airport operation and ulti-
ity, scalability while keeping the total lifetime mately increase customer satisfaction. As the
cost low. Some combine interconnected 3D Xovis technology at VIE security media reported in May the third largest airport
sensors and software solutions to measure and checkpoint: Automated queue detection in the world, Dubai International Airport (DXB),
predict KPIs such as passenger counts, dwell allocates every passenger to a category has reduced waiting times by 10 percent during
time, queue length, desk/ lane activity, waiting and excludes other groups such as visitors the first three months of 2017.
time, process time and passenger throughput. and staff (white dots). Xovis
When entering the covered area, every
passenger is counted, tracked and allocated detection” algorithm. Passengers that are not
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
to a queue according to an “automated queue queuing, are excluded from the measurements. Marc Rauch
Each of the deployed devices combines two Xovis
A typical 3D sensor image sensors to see three-dimensionally – Marc Rauch leads the recently
with two built-in very similar to the human eye; two “eyes” iden- founded Xovis office in Boston, MA.
cameras is typically tify pixels that correspond to the same point in
mounted on the an observed scene to determine the 3D position
ceiling. Xovis of this point via triangulation.

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airb_24-27_TechnologyDONE.indd 27 8/15/17 10:26 AM

 COVERSTORY By Joe Petrie

Rise
of the
Machines
Drones have officially made it into airport
operations and are poised to upend how the
industry tackles maintenance.

W hen Jordan Cicoria’s company

traveled across the world to find
business opportunities in 2016,
little did he know they would
find a partner in making changes
to how airports operate a lot closer to home.
In October 2016, Cicoria — who is man-
aging director of Aerium Analytics — said
the company was in Japan for an aerospace
show as part of an Alberta delegation, when
they struck up a conversation with represen-
tatives from Edmonton International Airport
(EIA) about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
who were also part of the envoy.
EIA was showcasing the Alberta Aerospace
and Technology Centre and Aerium was show-
casing its drone technology. As the two entities
got to talking, it led the airport to take a drastic

airb_28-31_CoverStoryDONE.indd 28 8/14/17 11:19 AM

 COVERSTORY

leap forward in its operations and become one of the first airports in DRONES ARE READY FOR AIRPORTS
North America to embrace the advent of drones. Miriam Hinthorn, U.S. operations manager at Consortiq, said a lot of peo-
“Edmonton really embraces new technologies and really wants to ple expected drones to be more prevalent by now in various industries
be on the forefront of that,” Cicoria said. “And they really realize with across the nation, but the slow movement, isn’t about the technology
UAVs and UAS that as they put it, it’s a matter of time, it’s coming and but due to policies related to drones. The aviation industry is starting
you can either try to fight it, or more importantly, you can embrace and to embrace the technology in airports now because revenues can be
adopt the technology.” very fickle and Hinthorn said implementing a UAS for various tasks
Aerium and Clear Flight Solutions have partnered to implement a can provide a significant cost savings. Taking data accrued from UAS
full drone program for Edmonton in order to help optimize sensors and placing them into an IoT platform can provide airports and
operations and create new ways of taking care of airlines a chance to implement predictive maintenance plans for assets.
challenges the airport faces using quad copter “Normally, you’ve had to hire an inspector to look at their roof. They
and fixed wing drones to gather data on can cut that time and you’re probably reducing it by 70 percent by using
land imaging, volumetric data and sur- a UAS to do it,” she said. “If you scan it 300 times in a year, you can
veying data. record it and you can start to look at a rate of change on a particular
One segment of the system is the shingle even, so over time, you have to do fewer and fewer inspections
Robird, which is a robotic bird designed because you’ve got your data figured out and spending way less on
to reduce bird strikes. It is configured to maintenance overhead.”
look and fly like a falcon to scare off birds Hinthorn said airports are not just looking at drones for maintenance
from nesting on the site. Cicoria said it even inspection, but various different tasks, including security.
flaps its wings for propulsion. “Paradoxically, you use it to mitigate the risk of hobbyists flying
Falconry has been used by some airports to keep their drones into the area if you have constant surveillance that’s really
birds at bay, but Cicoria said the robotic bird is more inexpensive to run at a safe distance,” she said.
controllable, allowing you to scare off the real birds Running drones on the airport require planning depending on
and heard them away from dangerous areas in and usage. Hinthorn said if you’re running a UAS in a low-risk area,
around the airfield. you need less redundancies and less training, and fly it higher
“The whole concept here is you’re playing to survey wider areas in a shorter period of time. The FAA
on the bird’s natural instincts,” he said. has a maximum altitude of 400 feet for using a UAS at
“With that, their natural instinct is to U.S. airports.
avoid predators.” Using a UAS on higher risk areas, such as run-
The Robird has been tested in ways means airports need to take more precau-
Europe in the agriculture indus- tions and instill more training to make sure
try and at a small airport in the equipment is used safely, which can get
Germa ny, Cicoria said. complex.
Edmonton is the first Hinthorn said people with an air con-
airport to adopt it in trol or aviation background can put
North America. The together a comprehensive plan for
drones are now in UAS usage at an airport because
operation. all the considerations and
planning can be extremely
time intensive by taking

airb_28-31_CoverStoryDONE.indd 29 8/15/17 10:41 AM

 COVERSTORY

into account all the different risks and weigh January to inspect it, so the concept of using
them to come up with something that can save one on the airfield also was appealing.
the airport money while not being more trouble A major construction project is coming up on
than it’s worth. the airfield at ATL and Eichfeld said it created
“You might be really limited on what you a really good opportunity to work in unmanned
can do and maybe you have to have protocol aerial photography as part of the project.
where it’s always tethered and only someone “What’s really nice about the unmanned
who has like 100 flight hours can operating aerial is that you can for fairly cheap put this up
that drone right now since everything is still into the air and gather some photos and videos
with a pilot doing everything move-by-move,” and also some orthography,” he said. “And in
Hinthorn said. “There’s no fully automated sys- theory, you can quantify pavement conditions
tem right now.” and you can take progress photos throughout
There can be challenges with getting fed- a construction site.”
eral authorization to implement a UAS at an
airport, but Hinthorn said making a case for
mitigating risk, preventing fly-away incidents
and what kind of training staff will have can
make the case for approval. This involves cre-
ating a very robust operational handbook.
“If you have a really robust case, then you’ve
clearly pressure tested your ideas, you’ve pres-
sure tests your operational protocol,” she said.
“It’s not undoable. It’s kind of a high startup
cost so to speak.”

DRONES INVADE ATLANTA

Marshall Eichfeld, mid-Atlantic unmanned aeri-
al systems lead for Michael Baker International,
said, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport (ATL) had interest with integrating a
UAV with its project inspection workload. The
airport flew a drone over a parking garage in

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 COVERSTORY

In order to use a drone for the project, the approval from the FAA was a
Eichfeld said they needed to gain clearance big milestone.”
from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) The first drone scan of Runway
to operate the drone in Class B aerospace. 9L/27R was completed in March,
The idea to use a drone at ATL was first with about 3,000 linear feet sur-
thought of in the summer of 2016, he said and veyed. The Topcon Falcon 8 drone
the airport was very eager to work with the firm collected 630 photos of the air-
on getting the authorization. It took about eight field in less than 20 minutes.
months to get the authorization, then Eichfeld Eichfeld said they plan missions
said they were given a list of instructions from each time the unit is flown. Sometimes they
FAA on what the approval covered. will also take video. of battery life on the drone, so on larger sec-
In order to fly under the authorization, “You can in theory take video frames and tions being documented they have to change
Eichfeld said it depends on what direction air- do analysis from that,” he said. batteries during the operation. “The top-down
planes in flying in to land so they could shut When a drone goes up, there’s a pilot in imagery is something that’s unique that typi-
down the runway the drone was being used command and a digital observer, who watch cally you would have had to spend five figures
on. They also want to perform the inspections the drone the entire time help the pilot. to bring an aerial surveyor out or a helicopter
when ATL is doing its regular shutdown of the Eichfeld said the time it takes to do an possibly to shoot these shots,” he said. “Now it’s
runway as part of its inspections. inspection via drone can vary depending on something that is relatively cheap and easy for
“Getting that Class Bravo FAA airspace what kind of pixel density users are seeking or contractors and engineers to go out and quickly
authorization I think was a really big deal and a what data you’re looking for. Depending on the look at their sites or do rudimentary
big step for the industry,” he said, “Just getting aircraft, they will get about 20 to 25 minutes calculations.”

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August/September 2017 airportbusiness 31

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 TECHNOLOGY By Sean Graham

Air Travel in the

Digital
Age
Consumer technology is infiltrating
the airport Industry: how to answer
emerging customer needs with
associated infrastructure and IT services.

T
oday, travelers have both the technologi- don’t supply it. Airport operators will gain the
ability to manage entire IT infrastructure and
cal competence and the desire to use dig- cable networks from a single centralized source
and optimize all airport operations. The right
ital services, especially when traveling infrastructure helps operators solve the airport’s
by air. Travelers want to easily find their most pressing problems, including how to:
• Quickly deliver emerging technologies in a
gate with indoor navigation apps, mobile cost-efficient manner
• Document and manage retail and consumer
order food and beverages while they wait activities
• Bill vendors and airlines for airport service
for their flight and quickly connect to high-speed usage
Wi-Fi in traveler lounges and throughout the termi- These are challenges most legacy systems
cannot satisfactorily address. Legacy sys-
nal, all while wirelessly recharging their devices. tems often lack correct documentation and
the interrelation between assets. Not only do
From the airline operator’s perspective, these customers. However, introducing these capabili- these issues make the legacy system inade-
digital services have a dual benefit. For one, ties into existing IT infrastructure and cable net- quate for today’s modern airport, but they often
they’re good for business. They enhance the pas- works can be difficult. There are legacy system lack modern integration techniques and fail to
senger experience and attract more passengers constraints to deal with and it’s a substantial meet the current and evolving needs of ICT in
to their hub. They also make airport operation financial investment to build and manage the the airport. This is especially true regarding
more efficient and cost effective, which improves infrastructure of a new, more advanced system. preparation and planning.
airport profitability. By making the investment, customers will The best approach for introducing state-of-
New technologies and functionalities are gain the superior service they have come to the-art IT services into the airport infrastructure
required of your infrastructure to enable these expect in today’s digital world and will soon begins with identifying the right, industry-spe-
emerging value-added digital services for airport demand value-added services from airports that cific solution for airports’ unique needs. Airport

32 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 TECHNOLOGY

IT and network operations managers need their infrastructure

to manage a vast array of cable networks and IT services. They ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
need a system that provides them full control of rollout projects, Sean Graham, FNT Software
operational processes and all related information. Any new solu- Sean Graham, General Manager of FNT Software’s office in Parsippany, New
tion must deliver complete visibility into every facet of the airport Jersey, is responsible for operations in North America.
infrastructure to support data-driven decisions to prevent service
disruption, improve work processes based on precise workplans
and shorten outage times due to faster root-cause-analysis.
A standard software solution for airports should include, at a
minimum, the following functional components:

CABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Data cables and communications services are vital to the mod-
ern business world. To manage them effectively, total transpar-
ency and graphical documentation of nodes, trays, sections and
individual fiber-optic assignments in conjunction with service
layers, is necessary. A complete cable management solution
enables businesses to document, plan and manage all the entire
cable and network infrastructure in an end-to-end view both
in planning and actual mode.

IT INFRASTRUCTURE KNOW WHO.

Having complete insight into IT infrastructure enables airports
to provision services quickly – from assets, to configuration AND WHEN.
AND WHERE.
items, to licenses, contracts and documentation. A complete IT
infrastructure management solution will optimize every inter-
action between networks, servers, workstations, server and
software management from both a technological and business
viewpoint. Additionally, integrated license management and
IT automation support can reduce IT costs and improve the
quality of IT services. Furthermore, the enhancement towards
a complete DCIM solution provides airport businesses with
full control of data center operations regarding space, power,
and cooling. The ability to assess and monitor a data center
in real-time improves decision making and daily processes, all
while reducing unplanned downtimes.

ICT SERVICES
Better organized service portfolio equals better IT service orga-
nization. A complete service management solution can sup-
port modeling and provisioning of service portfolios to increase
the efficiency of IT activities. By providing the foundation for
defining, managing, and monitoring business services and
Reduce operating costs, guarantee regulatory compliance
airport assets over their entire service lifecycle, you will be
able to match service management perspectives with the IT
and mitigate the insider threat with SAFE for Aviation —
infrastructure view. the identity and credential management solution trusted
The ability to provide customers with new digital services, by airports worldwide.
and the ability to manage the associated infrastructure cus-
tomers require, presents an opportunity to transform your air-
NOW YOU’LL KNOW.
port into the hub of choice, even as pressure from competition
intensifies. Providing superior service starts with gaining a quantumsecure.com/airports
clear and precise overview of your airport’s valuable
IT infrastructure and cable network assets.

www.aviationpros.com/12179515

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 33

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 CONCESSIONS By Benét Wilson

An App-etite For Travel

Concessionaires are turning to apps as a new way to draw in customers
while improving the overall traveler experience.

A
s airports deal with a traveler
base that’s spending more time in
their terminals, the challenge has
become to offer amenities that are
unique and useful. One interesting
trend is the creation of apps that
allow passengers to order and pick up food and
snacks from a variety of onsite restaurants.
To that end, three concepts — Airport passengers. As it went along, we tested that,
Sherpa, Grab and Host2Coast — are hoping but never expanded the program,” said Schmitz.
they can become dominant in the food/retail Host2Coast is a better representation of
delivery app space. what HMSHost wanted in an app, said Schmitz.
Jim Schmitz is the vice president of inno- “So we put it in our top nine locations, giving
vation for Bethesda, Maryland-based food and travelers locations and menus for every loca-
beverage concessions operator HMSHost. The tion in every airport. That didn’t happen with
company released the second iteration of its app, B4 You Board.”
Host2Coast, in eight airports in November. The HMSHost app is more focused on its
The app, available in the Apple and Google own locations, while Grab and Airport Sherpa
Play stores, allows travelers to locate nearby work more with all concessionaires. “Ultimately
dining options, see their menus, and pre-order our plan is to integrate the app with partners
food at select locations in Charlotte Douglas like airports, hotels and hotels with software
International Airport (CLT); Chicago O’Hare that will allow this seamlessly,” he said. “We
International Airport (ORD); Fort Lauderdale- don’t think saturation is a bad thing. It gives
Hollywood International Airport (FLL); travelers as many options as possible.”
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH); The app allows travelers to find nearby
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); restaurants, gives access to their menus and passenger and the benefit of having apps that
Miami International Airport (MIA); Phoenix at some locations, pre-order a meal, pay and work across networks,” he recalled.
Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX); and schedule a pick-up time for a food order up to Concepts fail when there’s fragmentation
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA). four hours in advance. Travelers can also receive and only single operators, said Livney.
HMSHost is no stranger to airport food apps. restaurant promotional alerts based on location. “We knew we had to have a product that
In 2014, it launched the B4 You Board in select Jeff Livney is the chief experience officer was similar to the OpenTable [restaurant] app
restaurants at Chicago O’Hare, Sacramento for Houston-based Grab. The idea from the in order to be successful,” he said. “We also
International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Salt Lake app came from Livney and his co-founders, realized that we needed people from the air-
City, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International who all traveled a lot. “Two of them came from line industry who understood passengers, so
airports. “B4 You Board was more of a test on the airline business via United Airlines and we came together and founded the company
functionality and to see if there was interest from Continental Airlines, so they understood the in 2014.”

34 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 CONCESSIONS

The founders spend time

building Grab and launched it in
Atlanta in October 2015. “Grab is
now in close to 200 restaurants
in 19 airports. It’s been exciting
to develop and grow relationships
with these restaurants,” he said.
“We like that travelers see the
value of Grab.
“We’re working on integrating
our products onto existing apps
on iOS or Android. We’re also in
the process of embedding Grab
inside the American Airlines app,
which really boosts our distribu-
tion,” said Livney.
Grab will also add retail and
duty-free shopping, said Livney.
“We’ll be in our first location soon.
When you think about it, it makes
a lot of sense,” he said.

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 CONCESSIONS

The size and reach of Grab is great, and Both food and retail
it partners with HMSHost, said Livney. “Their orders can be placed up
locations will be available through the Grab plat- to a week in advance and
form. And if Airport Sherpa gets off the ground, they will be delivered even
we can eventually partner with them,” he said. if a gate changes. And if
Patrick DellaValle, a co-founder of Airport passengers want to pick
Sherpa, says there are a few differences up their own orders, the
between his app and that of his competitors. app includes walking direc-
“One key difference is that we offer travelers tions with time estimates.
food pick-up and delivery, which we think is Airport Sherpa is starting
an important value proposition,” he said. “We on the Apple platform, but
offer a higher level of personalization that focus- will also develop an Android
es on a travel centric approach.” His team is app, he added.
preparing to launch at Baltimore-Washington BW I was the launch
International Airport in the spring. airport for Airport Sherpa
It starts with a traveler’s flight information, because of partner Alan
said DellaValle. “With that, we can see departure Gluck’s relationship with offi-
times, connections and gates, which allows us cials and concessions operator
to provide customized recommendations for food Airmall, said DellaValle. “Our
and retail. It allows us to give a more personal- company is based in the D.C. potential partners like
ized approach with the user experience.” area, so we spend a lot of time airlines as our custom-
at BWI,” he said. “It ers, so we approach it
has a good volume from that standpoint,”
of diverse travel- he explained. “When
ers and its layout we started our dis-
is conducive to the cussions with Airmall,
concept.” we said that there was an
When it came time to pitch opportunity to improve the passenger experi-
their concepts to airports, the com- ence and bring in more incremental revenue to
AVIATION FACILITY DEVELOPMENT panies took different approaches. concessions, Airmall and the airport authority.”
MROs • FBOs • OFFICES • HANGARS • AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE HMSHost’ Schmitz said he didn’t When it comes to the technology needed
need to pitch, since it was an to receive orders, Airport Sherpa works with
extension of the brand. “When we individual operators using their platforms and
launched the app in our first nine integrating with that, said DellaValle. “It will
airports, we had other airports be pretty individualized, since operators have
coming to us to be included in the different POS technology.”
rollout,” he said. “The challenge For HMSHost, the key is seamless integra-
becomes when an airport wants it tion of a vendor’s POS and kitchen display sys-
Aviation requires expertise above and beyond what it takes to develop for other restaurants but they’re not tems, said Schmitz. “Unless we have this, the
other types of commercial real estate properties. We have been
developing facilities across the United States since 1984. We partner HMSHost brands.” experience could be a disaster for passengers,”
with Airports to craft developments that exceed expectations. Western Grab didn’t really have to pitch he said. “It’s all about the integration. Our opera-
LLC provides design/build solutions for the aviation industry and other
markets. Depending on the needs of a client, Western LLC centralizes
because it’s part of the airport tors must be able to provide the best experience.
all aspects of the development, including research, site selection, restaurant and retail outlets’ distri- So if a manager has to key in an order, it could
architectural design, engineering services, government approvals, bution, said Livney. “We’re actually missed it when it’s busy. That leads to a bad
financing, marketing, and property management.
a way for them to maintain their customer experience and bad ratings.”
` Strategic and Master Planning businesses and retain customers Like HMSHost, Grab focuses on integrat-
` Project Financing & Lease-Back Options who don’t have time to shop or wait ing with its vendors’ POS systems, said Livney.
` Design-Build
` Marketing for food,” he said. “POS integration is very important because of
` Project Management Airport Sherpa views itself as the volume of orders that are coming in,” he said.
a platform that provides value to “But we do have non-integrated solutions too
Western LLC partners with Airports to offer our professional support
from concept to completion. different groups of people, said where vendors and manage orders and we pro-
DellaValle. “We view Airmall, pas- vide the technology needed to do it.”
Western LLC | (303) 407-3995 | www.WesternLLC.net sengers, concessions and other

www.aviationpros.com/12359472

36 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 By Chris Snyder HANGARDEVELOPMENT

Customer-Driven Corporate Hangar Helps Seed Company

Grow Its Business

The state-of-the-art facility helps Beck’s Hybrids customize and refine its
customer service.

C ustomer service is at the heart of any

successful business and how each busi-
ness approaches that concept can vary
greatly.
For some, this could mean adopting a busi-
ness model that provides customers with the
information and opportunities they need to
make the best product decision. For others, it
can entail making the customer experience as
to a strong, down-to-earth work ethic built on
“faith, fortitude and innovation.”
That’s why, in 2016, Beck’s opened a pri-
vate, state-of-the-art hangar to better manage
its customers’ experience.
and an opportunity to meet a member from the
Leadership Team, 90 percent of those potential
customers will buy the first year. Of those cus-
tomers, Beck’s has over a 90 percent retention rate.
“Flying them in has made the most sense,”
Bruner said. “Our marketing area has greatly
increased in the last five years, from neighbor-
ing states to Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee and
Wisconsin. The further from Indiana we grow,
people don’t always know Beck’s.”
Beck’s, which bought its first corporate jet
in 2001, has grown to include two nine-pas-
easy and pleasant as possible to retain custom- “This hangar truly embodies the Beck senger Learjet’s, a 17-passenger Falcon and
ers and gain new business. family from the design to the execution of the a five-passenger EC-135 helicopter. Limiting
And for a select group, it’s both. business,” said Caleb Bruner, the facility design the number of corporate flights, more than 95
Beck’s Hybrids is the sixth largest seed lead for Beck’s. “We pride ourselves in people percent of Beck’s flights are customer-driven.
company in the country, the third largest seed getting to know our culture. By creating this The company has exponentially increased
company in the Midwest and the largest fam- space specific to our vision, we can control its flight hours in the last five years by 213 per-
ily-owned retail seed company in the world. that message. This hangar is the face of our cent, more than 400 percent since 2008 and is
The 80-year-old operation is based in company to those who cannot easily drive to presently looking at a small increase in 2017.
Atlanta, Ind., and serves farmers in nine states. our headquarters.” Prior to the construction of the hangar, these
It is owned by the Beck family and provides flights were conducted out of the local fixed-
farmers with high-yielding corn, soybeans, CONSTRUCTING THE VISION base operator (FBO) hangar.
wheat and elite alfalfa. Embodying the concept Beck’s has found that when it brings prospec- “The FBO was owned by someone else and
of farmers working for farmers, Beck’s adheres tive customers to its headquarters for a tour using their site limited our ability to manage

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 37

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 HANGARDEVELOPMENT

our customers’ experience to the level desired,” Beck’s employs eight pilots, four mechan-
Bruner said. “We want their experience with ics and one flight attendant at the hangar.
us to truly embody the quality of our company Their responsibilities range from varying lev-
from start to finish.” els of administration, maintenance, cleaning,
Beck’s hired Woolpert in January 2015 as cooking and lawn care on top of flight-related
the lead architect for Beck’s Hangar. responsibilities.
The 19,000-square-foot facility is designed Complete electrical systems — including
specific to the needs of Beck’s and was the first an emergency generator backup, LED lighting
corporate hangar of its type and size to be built throughout, and apron and exterior ramp light-
at Indianapolis Executive Airport (TYQ). ing — also were included in the hangar design. Two tanks were concealed in a ventilated,
Woolpert provided the structural, civil, The climate-controlled system included air-con- open-air section of the enclosure, with an
mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) ditioning, fans, two boiler HVAC systems and explosion-proof wall between the tanks
engineering, as well as the development, sur- chillers, air compressors to ensure good air flow and the building. Woolpert
vey, structural and construction administration and heated floors and sidewalks.
for the site. “Midwestern winters can be rough. In the PAVING THE WAY
The Beck family wanted the hangar to have parking lot, we’ve added plugs with electrical Beck’s and Woolpert conducted analyses and
a distinctive building shape to match their power for customers’ vehicles,” Bruner said. worked with the airport, the Hamilton County
other buildings, which have been constructed “If they’ve left their keys behind during their Airport Authority and local municipalities to
with Behlen Manufacturing. They have a stan- flight, we’ll warm up their cars. It’s considered ensure the plan was approved and up to code.
dard steel frame, corrugated sides freestanding part of the movement of the customer through “We worked with the airport directly to
in the middle and the curved white roof. the process.” show why this hangar would be valuable to
“We wanted the hangar to mimic the feel Beck’s also wanted some of the mechani- the airport, and made sure ordinances were
of the rest of our facilities, while embracing cal elements of the hangar to be aesthetically met,” Bruner said. “The fuel tank system, for
our customer-first business model,” Bruner pleasing and of comfort to the customers. The example, took months to negotiate. But doing
said. The company wanted the site to include company wanted to convey that they were these necessary steps up front was absolutely
amenities not always found at a hangar to set being transported by a very professional, clean critical to lay the proper groundwork for such
their facility apart. These included offices, a con- and consistent “mini”-airport facility. a high-profile project.”
ference room, workout room, sleeping quarters, “With customer service at the heart of this The airport helped Woolpert and Beck’s by
kitchens and welcoming lobby. project, the goal was to make it comfortable and bringing up aspects that hadn’t been consid-
convenient for customers to convene and hang ered and showing considerable flexibility by
out between flights,” Bruner said. “Windows being open to alternative options and negoti-
were constructed in the lobby to illustrate the ations. Woolpert’s relationship with the airport,
pristine and professional condition of the hangar. as well as its work with the Federal Aviation
“When it came to fuel tanks, we didn’t want Administration (FAA), Homeland Security and
storage tanks masking the experience we were Hamilton County, also provided support to the
cultivating.” project. These relationships eased conversa-
This plan led to the construction of a tions and provided assurance that this vision
24,000-gallon jet fuel system in a self-ventilat- was still grounded in reality.
ed, security-controlled canopy enclosure. Two “Because of the relationships we’ve
tanks were concealed in a ventilated, open-air built with our contractors, electricians and
section of the enclosure, with an explosion-proof framers, and a 50-year history with Behlen
The climate-controlled system included
wall between the tanks and the building. This Manufacturing, it greatly benefited us in
air-conditioning, fans, two boiler HVAC
was designed as an extra level of caution to building the hangar,” Bruner said. “Sonny Beck
systems and chillers, air compressors to
protect the system from the elements and also and the local government officials had worked
ensure good air flow, and heated floors
the employees and customers from the system. together before. All these small things have
and sidewalks. Woolpert
Woolpert also designed a 40,000-gallon helped form a piece of Beck’s history, and they
“The interior was designed by Glendia underground water storage tank for the han- came together for this project.”
Beck, who understands our customers and gar’s fire protection system. “This allowed us to
could provide a warm and welcoming space,” eliminate the need to have a pole coming out of Read more: www.AviationPros.com/
Bruner said. “It’s this personal touch that the ground, and we could keep our 360-degree 12354181
extends to customer service.” The hangar view,” Bruner said. “This also was supported by
Author Chris Snyder is a Professional Engineer and
includes a flight planning room with fiber-optic the centerpiece of the hangar — its 120-foot- senior director for Woolpert, where he’s worked for
internet connections and maintenance shops. by-28-foot glass hydraulic door.” more than 15 years.

38 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 By John Grant AIRLINES

Why Airline Capacity to

Cuba is Falling Off
After one year of service from the U.S. to Cuba, what challenges are facing
these routes?

L
ess than a year after President Obama Before the announcement was made in
December 2014 that Obama was working to
restored commercial air travel between improve relations with Cuba, only 24,268 book-
ings were made between the U.S. and Cuba on
the U.S. and Cuba, airlines are cutting scheduled air services that year. Considering
back on what looked to be promising there were no direct routes, more than 75 per-
cent of passengers started or ended their jour-
routes. Some have speculated that air- neys at Miami International Airport, but were
routed through the Bahamas or the Cayman
lines may have jumped the gun in the Islands to reach Cuba.
While interest in travel to Cuba remains
capacity they planned to deliver to the market, high among many Americans, the once hopeful
as we have very rarely seen a market grow as outlook of restored relations – and air travel –
between the countries isn’t looking as bright.
quickly as this. Others believe that some reduc-
THE DEMAND THAT STOPPED
tion was inevitable in such a new and explosive DEMANDING
Though regular passenger service between the
market. Let’s look at the story the data tells. U.S. and Cuba formally reopened in November
2016, there was alternate air service available
before the announcement. Before December,
passengers relied on established charter oper-
ations, like PublicServiceCharters.com, and an
American Airlines route to Holguín to get to
Cuba. The table shows the rise in available
seat capacity from November to December
of last year, as many airlines waited for the
holiday season to introduce the new routes. In
December, budget and mainline carriers alike
jumped on the available daily routes between
the U.S. and Cuba, as Southwest, Delta, Spirit,
Frontier and JetBlue all either added or expand-
ed service to Cuba within a month. Almost
overnight, air travel capacity went from 60,390
one-way seats to 160,648.
From August to December of last year,
airlines offering scheduled service to Cuba
jumped from five to ten, with routes sudden-
ly available across 22 city pairs compared to

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 39

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 AIRLINES

the five city pairs available just three months add more scheduled services
earlier. This scale of growth has rarely been between two city pairs where
experienced elsewhere and while some may the demand is high and offer
say it speaks to the high level of demand for less frequent services from a
the market, there are already signs that the different departure city but same
demand won’t hold. arrival city. In the case of U.S.-Cuba
direct air service, relaxed travel restrictions
MAKING A ROUTE SUCCESSFUL and visa entry policies can also be a major
Since the market opened, airlines have expect- factor. Florida-Cuba sector would probably be no
edly cut back on scheduled capacity, now aver- • Leisure markets: Airlines will also look to add more than an hour and 15 minutes; a sector to
aging about 135,000 one-way seats per month, service to potential leisure markets based the Southern Caribbean would be two and a
down roughly 20 percent from the peak in on similar, established markets. The avail- half hours, so an airline would perhaps prefer
January. Even with the decrease, seat capac- ability of varying accommodation levels is to run two roundtrips than one longer sector.
ity is consistently remaining four times what also quite important for those markets with With the rise of the low-cost carriers, trav-
it was from the September 2016 level when a high proportion of inbound leisurely-type elers are more willing to travel to destinations
American Airlines launched its first scheduled travelers and rates to meet the degrees of they might not have previously considered –
services to Cuba. hospitality. Airlines will factor in economet- for the right price, of course. Thus, when air-
Looking at the data is easy, but when a mar- ric data, such as the levels of GDP, and more lines, especially budget operators, add new
ket has been closed for more than 50 years, importantly, disposable income, to be used flights, it generates interest and curiosity
preemptively judging the possible demand for as travel market foresight. among travelers. This is a strategy many air-
a destination is no simple task. In some cases, • Network size: Mainline and budget airlines lines use to create demand for underserved
an educated guess might be the best bet. When both add services to build their networks, markets and provide an outlet for additional
airlines are looking to add a new route, factors sometimes testing the water before taking routes to airlines who are looking to expand
they might consider include: the plunge. Historic stimulation rates also and add more services.
• Capital cities: When airlines are looking to play an important role as airlines will look
expand their networks, many first look to at how other new markets that have been WHAT’S WORKING,
capital cities as connectivity is usually a opened have responded to the opening of AND WHAT’S GOT TO GO
given. direct services rather than indirect routings. Even as recent as a few months ago, while
• Major ethnic flows: Airlines take into con- • Sector length: As crazy as it may seem, air- some airlines were looking to pull out on some
sideration popular destinations from a cer- lines consider the sector length versus mar- of their routes to Cuba, others were prepared
tain country. For example, an airline might ket opportunity when looking to expand. A on the sidelines, waiting to snatch them up.

www.aviationpros.com/10017751 www.aviationpros.com/12322408

40 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 AIRLINES ADINDEX

Most recently, it seems like many of the airlines has risen more than 60 percent and 44 percent, Advertiser..................................Page #
offering regular services to Cuba are looking respectively, in July 2017 when compared to ADB Safegate.................................................. 7
to opt out on at least a few routes, if not all data from the same month the previous year. Airport Lounge Development....................... 13
together, including Southwest, American Airports Consultants Council........................ 43
JetBlue and Frontier. LOOKING AHEAD Amadeus Airport IT Americas, Inc................ 11
According to the numbers, there were 1,456 Before, one could have made an argument Boingo.......................................................... 27
flights scheduled between October through either way as to the existence of a travel mar- CAPS Aviation............................................... 35
December of last year, whereas there are only ket to Cuba for Americans. Now, there is no Corgan.......................................................... 15
1,275 for this summer. As major carriers are doubt that the interest and curiosity among Ford Commercial Truck................................ 2-3
pulling out, smaller city pairs are taking a travelers exists. While some policy reversals HNTB............................................................ 25
noticeable hit. This is a classic thing when new have made it once again more difficult to travel Lektro........................................................... 35
markets open. Airlines “test” the market and to Cuba, Americans now have the desire to NBAA-BACE................................................... 26
will over time retrench back to the major city go. Since there is capacity available, travelers NEC Display Solutions................................... 19
pairs. Sometimes they will leave that city pair will find other ways to get to Cuba if direct air
Oshkosh Airport Products............................ 44
Quantum Secure.......................................... 33
completely and other times they will reduce service is no longer available.
RS&H............................................................ 31
weekly frequency or in some cases merely run Even if more U.S. airlines continue to
Rubbermaid Commercial Products.............. 8,9
seasonal services. Over time, some of those reduce routes to Cuba, the country will not
SCA Tork........................................................ 17
routes may actually grow back to the initial be left in the dust. Looking from a global scale, Schweiss Doors............................................. 40
levels. Though not up-to-date compared to U.S. the aviation industry is seeing continued inter- SkyMark Refuelers........................................ 20
standards, the international airport in Havana est from the European Union and Canada in VP Buildings.................................................. 21
is still the most equipped to handle the capac- Cuba as a tourist destination. Western LLC.................................................. 36
ity of incoming flights and passengers from the Never have so many aviation industry Zendex Tool Corporation ............................. 40
U.S., and thus remains the most popular arrival experts seen a market expand so rapidly –
destination for travelers and airlines. seemingly overnight – as U.S. to Cuba air CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING
service. The world is getting smaller, people
POLICY IMPACTS AND WHAT THEY want to travel and airlines want to and can
MEAN FOR CUBA help facilitate this. Pulling the plug now would
While current policy changes threaten to undo be very difficult and may prove to be
years of work, there is also an underlying fragil- more trouble than its worth.
ity to the U.S.-Cuban travel market and taking
8

Ê Ê
this away seems contrary to America’s sense BIRD AND WILDLIFE CONTROL
of pioneering. U.S. airlines have invested con-
siderably in both capacity and marketing to Frighten Birds From
advertise their services. Would the government Active Runways With
want to risk upsetting the market with a com- The Scare-Away System
plete policy overhaul? Should travel policies to ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
Cuba be reversed, airlines could stand to lose
millions of dollars and the direct and indirect
John Grant, OAG
Reed - Joseph
impacts felt would be widespread.
One of the most respected aviation International Company
experts in the industry, John’s anal-
Not only would airlines be losing out on rev- ysis have been featured in major
800.647.5554 reedjoseph.com
enue, but a greater economic impact might be publications including The New York
felt by the local Cuban chain as jobs could be Times, CNN, USA Today, BBC, the
stripped. But just because the U.S.-Cuban mar- Financial Times, TIME and more. John captures and
ket may be at risk doesn’t mean other markets analyzes complex aviation data and industry trends
to provide commentary on what’s driving changes in
are. Interest in Cuba as a leisure destination,
the travel market. He’s served as a featured speaker
especially when other popular travel markets at major industry events including the CAPA Americas
are facing threats like terrorism, from Canada Aviation Summit, the CAPA World Aviation Summit,
and Europe continues to grow. Compared to the Routesonline Strategy Summit and more. John is a
the 116,106 one-way seats flown from Europe senior analyst and executive vice president at aviation
to Cuba in July 2016, bookings were up over data provider OAG, a partner at MIDAS aviation, and
25 percent for July of this year, with 145,211 owner of JG Aviation Consultants, Ltd. At OAG, John
manages and works to enhance OAG’s product portfo-
one-way seats to Cuba departing Europe. Of
lio and new product development.
those bookings, travel from France and the UK

August/September 2017 airportbusiness 41

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 TOTALLYBOGGUS By Roddy Boggus

Gassed Up and
Ready To Go

S
everal weeks ago, major media outlets The MED is vacuum pump technology that
when inserted in a posterior docking port, just
reported on an unscheduled airline prior to boarding, will evacuate all trapped air
landing due to an odor in the cabin that thereby rendering inert each passenger as a
possible toxic asphyxiate carrier. While the
some were attributing to “passed gas.” MED did exceptionally in trials, it was never
advanced to the operational environment of an
While no one was hurt and many on the airport, in part due to difficulty in creating an
acceptable “plug-n-play” port for each passen-
ground were later heard to say that it ger and the potential to improperly dispose of
was a mechanical odor, whatever that is, it did the captured contaminate thereby contributing
to global warming.
cause our WTF (Way Too Freaky) alarm to go off As we, as an industry, continue to work
against the ever-evolving threats to the aviation
in our headquarters. This MIFL (Methane Induced Forced Landing) event system by those who would do us harm, the IBT
greatly concerns the IBT as several years ago, we took great pains to examine just such a continues their work to create devices to defeat
possibility during our study of EBI (Explosive Body Implants). While EBI countermeasures threats that have not even been thought of yet.
never made it out of the lab into full production, one such study did result in the creation of Due to overwhelming safety concerns, we are
a testing device to help prevent MIFL. not at liberty to discuss future, unimagined
Code named SHAMU (Super Human soda and eggs. By increasing the amount of threats nor mitigation devices to defend against
Asphyxiate Mitigation Undertaking), this asphyxiates a person or multiple people could these future undetermined threats. However,
operation was directed at preventing would produce in a thinner oxygen environment, such you can be sure, much like the MIFL above, our
be terrorists from increasing the amounts of as at high altitude. This condition could result WTF response is always at the ready should the
asphyxiates a person could produce from eating in dangerous levels of nitrogen and flamma- situation warrant.
chemically enhanced beans, cabbage, cheese, ble methane being introduced in the cabin of Finally, the IBT has received many requests
an aircraft. In the right situations, this toxic to study the mitigation efforts to combat “arm-
level of asphyxiates could permanently impair rest” feet. We are currently in trials now for our
or disable aircraft passengers. Our lab work Top Ten List of mitigating this corny and callus

BOGGUS
proved that an average person can expel attitude of passengers from the seat behind you
asphyxiates at the rate of 10 feet per second using your armrest as a foot stool.

TERMS
and that a person, who could flatulate contin-
uously for 6 months and 9 days, could produce
the effective gas of an atomic bomb. Taking
ffIBT: Institute of Boggus Talk
the math further, we can work out that it would ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
ffWTF: Way Too Freaky
take nearly 56,160 people off-gassing simulta- Roddy Boggus,
ffMIFL: Methane Induced Forced
neously for 15 minutes to create the effects of Executive Vice President of Aviation, Suffolk
Landing
an atomic bomb. Since even the most densely Roddy is responsible for National Aviation Strategy,
ffEBI: Explosive Body Implants Pipeline Sourcing, and Tier Accounts. A 30 year avia-
loaded A380 cannot hold anywhere near 56,160
ffSHAMU: Super Human Asphyxiate tion professional, he is an Architect with a Bachelors’
people, the potential of creating a FLAT-BOMB
Mitigation Undertaking of Design from Texas Tech University. Roddy is the
(flatulence bomb) at 30,000 feet is impossible. 2017 Board Chair of the Airport Consultants Council
ffFLAT-BOMB: Flatulence Bomb
These calculations for the SHAMU operation (ACC) and sits on the Board of Directors for the
ffMED: Methane Evacuation Device
did result, however, in the industry’s first ever International Partnering Institute (IPI) as well as the
MED (Methane Evacuation Device). International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE).

42 airportbusiness August/September 2017

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 FOR AIRPORTS RELATIONSHIPS YOUR BUSINESS

NOVEMBER 6 – 8, 2017

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