International Airport News

The Chinese government has approved the construction of a new airport in Beijing to help the capital city cope with congestion at its main hub. According to a report by the Civil Aviation Administration of China says that construction of the new airport, to be located in Daxing, south of Beijing, is scheduled to start in 2014 and will be completed by 2018. The new airport is expected to cost 11 billion dollars. The fact that the Beijing international airport reached its capacity limit in 2012, seeing some 81.9-million passengers passing through, (a capacity for 81-million) prompted the need for a secondary international airport.

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The first major snowfall for the year has dumped it's self upon the regularly set schedules at Narita Airport in Tokyo. Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport, with the latter harbouring approximately 3,400 stranded travellers on Monday night after the closure of both runways.

JAL cancelled approximately 193 domestic flights, affecting over 31,000 passengers, while another Japanese carrier, All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) had 116 domestic cancellations affecting around 24,000 travellers.

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In Chicago at the Chicago O'Hare International, heads did roll as U.S Customs offcials made an odd discovery yesterday, January 14, 2013. Apparently a shipment of 18-heads were discovered, yes human heads. However, they may be for the purpose of medical samples. An investigation is currently going on to ensure that the human heads are exactly for that purpose and not part of anything else more sinister.

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Both Gatwick International and Heathrow International are planning a further Air Passenger Duty (APD). Heathrow and Gatwick airport passengers could soon be paying a congestion charge, if recently drawn-up plans are set into motion. This is the idea to 'help' both sites manage passenger levels. Heathrow is currently running at full-capacity and Gatwick will eventually reach there as projected to be in 2019.

Passengers Storm Check-In Counters at Kunming Airport

Heavy fog at the Kunming Airport recently was responsible for the cancellation of a significant number of flights that resulted in the delaying and stranding of 10,000+ passengers. Apparently when the fog lifted, eager, upset and uncivil passengers stormed the check-in counters at the relatively new airport.

Tender Due Out For Huge New Turkish Airport

Turkey's new and third airport could be set for construction as long as they find a firm to build it and hence tenders are out for this new airport. It will become the largest joint private-public sector programme in Turkey, according to officials and set to handle some 150 million passengers per year. If started immediately, construction could finish in 2016.

Heathrow cancels numerous flights due to heavy snowfall

Over 170 flights were cancelled as heads at Heathrow International Airport closed off a runway that was filled with snow while de-icing proceedures were done. The de-icing work on the runway was expected to take approximately 45-minutes. However, officials say that they may have to close the southern runway to de-ice it as well just as a safety measure.

TSA to remove controversial full-body scanners

The TSA or Transportation Security Administration, is to remove the very uncomfortable and controversial full-body scanners at many of America's airports. The full-body scanners often seem to violate the 'privacy' of passengers when it displayed a nude image of them to reveal any banned hidden paraphernaila.

The so-called 'backscatter' machines are expected to be all removed by June 1 and replaced by 'millimeter wave body scanners'. It is estimated that there are 174 of the controversial 'nude' security machines in service at 30 airports in America.

More snow affects hundreds of flights across European Airports this weekend. We know about what happened in England at Heathrow but main airports in Germany, France and Belgium have been severely affected leaving alot of passengers stranded. As time rolls into the 21st of January, more cancellations could occur across Europe.

Apparently the Stansted Airport in England has been purchased by Manchester Airports Group. Announced on Saturday, the London Stansted Airport was bought for 1.5-billion pounds.

Dubai Airport opens new A380 concourse

Dubai Airport opens up new A380 concourse recently. Four of the twenty gates are in operation at the moment and the rest will be phased in opening to ensure a smooth transition for the airport and their partners. The expansion is a critical part of the airport's $7.8 billion Strategic Plan 2020, which will be dedicated to the exclusive use by Emirates airline.

Upgrades expected to come to SXM (Princess Juliana, St. Maarten)

St. Maarten's airport is one of the more recognizable and known airports in the Caribbean region with its beautiful approach across the Maho Beach area, which is famous in itself. The Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is expected to undergo renovations to upgrade and rebrand itself.

Works call for a resurfacing of the runway, further apron space, newly-built taxiways for aircraft and so on. The expansion work has been facilitated by the acquisition of new land in the area. The airport hit 1.6 million passengers in 2011 and expects to go above 2 million by 2016 and so the expansion is being deemed necessary. The airport logo is also expected to change along with the overhaul of the website and the airport wants to become a regional hub. Expect all of this work to cost some $132-million. Work is expected to start on the runway resurfacing first.

Gatwick UK border officials busted a shipment of drugs recently

Approximately, £8 million of liquid form cocaine was discovered at the Gatwick international Airport recently on the 14th of Jan allegedly on a Jamaican cargo flight. The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), traced the shipment to several address across London before reaching Beckenham two days after. During raids on these premises, officers discovered big quantities of cash and evidence of prior shipments, and five people were arrested.

Air pollution strikes again in China, halts air travel

Severe Air Pollution has struck once more in China and has halted air travel. The density of the bad air has been affecting air travel in Beijing and beyond with conditions around many of the major cities' airports proving too dangerous to permit usual flight operations with PM2.5 air pollution levels now at 526 micrograms per cubic metre (according to US Embassy figures) - over 20 times higher than WHO (the World Health Organization) considers ‘safe'.

The PrivateFly results are out for the best airport approaches

Aviation firm PrivateFly has released it results that it generates annually for the best looking, most scenic airport approaches. The Caribbean Island of St. Maarten has been voted number one for its scenic approach into the Princess Juliana International Airport.

"We are very excited at the news that SXM Airport has been chosen as having the world's most stunning landing", said Princess Juliana's Managing Director, Regina LaBega. "This recognition comes at a time when we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the airport. It is, therefore, a most welcome birthday gift, so to speak. We are grateful to all who, obviously from experience, chose SXM Airport as number one in the world in this category."

The top ten list...

1. Princess Juliana International Airport
2. Barra Airport
3. Los Angeles International Airport
4. Paro Airport (Bhutan)
5. Las Vegas McCarran Airport
6. Phinda Private Game Reserve Airstrip (South Africa)
7. London City Airport
8. Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport
9. Mustique Airport
10. Nice Cote d'Azur Airport

Delta is planning to take the outdoor concept literally at some of its hubs

You very well know many terminals around the world, the designers try to create as much open space and views out to the tarmac with large window terminals and lounges. It also allows alot of natural light to pour in during the day reducing the electricity bills! Delta Airlines is taking that concept further by actually going outside! They are creating outdoor terraces at their Atlanta and NYC sky-clubs.

Terminal 4 at John F. Kenedy International airport in NYC is undergoing a $1.2 billion expansion and will see a rooftop terrace addition to its Sky Club, which is due to open in May. Over the last two years, Delta has renovated or opened 13 clubs across the cities they operate in, including, Seattle, Philadelphia, Minneapolis-St Paul, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and of course New York and Atlanta.

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Dubai International leaps to 3rd place in world's busiest rankings

Dubai International sits in 3rd place in the rankings of world's busiest international airports after handling some 58 million passengers last year, 2012. The predictions are even more lofty with forecasts calling for the 65 million mark during 2013. Heathrow in the UK currently holds the number 1 spot with approximately 70-million passengers handled and France's Charles de Gaulle at 61.6-million in 2012. In fourth, powerhouse, HongKong International close behind Dubai International at 56.5-million.

Singapore's powerhouse Changi International Airport recorded a bumper year in 2012 too. They saw some 51.2-million passengers passing through that airport for the year. That's some 10-percent increase over the previous year.

LAX to get security system upgrade

Los Angeles International Airport is in for a 27-million dollar security system upgrade or overhaul. General Dynamics Information Technology are responsible for providing the new security system which will comprise of some 2,500 internal and external cameras to go along with existing cameras. Everything will be tied into the sensors and alarms at the airport and will be able to relay live feed to security stations around the airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport best for business travel in the U.S?

It seems that the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the best for business travel in the U.S. This is according to surveys done taking in the perspectives and opionions of business travelers. 42% rated it the US' best business travel airport while some 40% just said it was the nation's best for connecting flights.