Airports

Provision included in spending bill would prevent scenarios similar to TWA-American Airline merger

December 17, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Less than a week after Lufthansa agreed to purchase 19% of Jet Blue, a struggling U.S. carrier, U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond today secured a provision to the Senate’s omnibus spending bill to provide air carrier employees with a base level of protection during mergers.    » read more »

Bill rejects President Bush's expected piecemeal approach to air delays by limiting flights into New York's JFK Airport, forcing more planes into Newark

December 17, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – In anticipation of President Bush’s announcement to cap flights into New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced a bill to reduce delays and congestion for air travelers across the entire New Jersey-New York region, one of the busiest in the nation for national and international air travel as well as air freight.    » read more »

December 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Following news reports this week that the Department of Transportation plans to implement flight schedule restrictions for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, New Jersey’s U.S. Senators, Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), are pressing the Department to take a more regional approach to reducing flight delays – an approach that includes action to reduce delays at Newark Liberty International Airport (Letter).    » read more »

December 12, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, DC] – In a meeting with the nominee for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Robert Sturgell, US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he is calling for an immediate investigation into air traffic controller conditions, including staffing levels and fatigue, at Chicago air traffic facilities. Durbin’s announcement comes just days after a national study on runway safety revealed that O’Hare International Airport had the second-highest number of near-collisions on its runways of any U.S. airport between 2001 and 2006.    » read more »

December 11, 2007 -- Rather than working with the airlines and the Port Authority to improve customer service by expanding capacity at JFK, the FAA has instead chosen to charge every passenger more without improving service.

The Administration's plan will not just hurt passengers, it will cut off millions of travelers who fly in and out of JFK, choking a critical engine in New York State's economy.    » read more »

Lautenberg, Oberstar, Costello release report, chide FAA

December 5, 2007 -- WASHINGTON—Three Congressional leaders on aviation safety today released a Government Accountability Office study showing that ground operations at the nation’s airports have not been improved in more than five years.    » read more »

Announces $500,000 in State Smart Growth Funds to Help Localities Plan for Anticipated Growth

November 1, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer today led officials from the Port Authority and Hudson Valley communities in commemorating the first day of Port Authority control of Stewart International Airport in Newburgh. The Governor also announced a Regional Smart Growth Initiative to include a state planning council and a state commitment of $500,000 in grants to local communities to plan for increased growth and development in the region.    » read more »

In tests, 60% of fake explosives went undetected through airport security at O'Hare

October 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) today called on TSA Administrator Kip Hawley to immediately improve the bomb detection capabilities at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and our nation’s other airports.    » read more »

10/16/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, joined by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, today announced that the State has contributed $150 million to improve traffic signal synchronization in Los Angeles. These improvements are being funded through Proposition 1B, which was championed by the Governor and approved last year by voters.    » read more »

Grants Support Aviation, Rail and Port Improvements across New York State

September 18, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced today approval for more than $43 million in funding for aviation, rail and port capital projects across New York State. This funding from the Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act of 2005 will support infrastructure, security, and economic development projects across the state.    » read more »

September 18, 2007 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has released $75,532,466 for four projects at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) as part of the Administration’s $2.3 billion, 12-year airports modernization plan. The Governor made the announcement today during the groundbreaking ceremony for one of the projects – a new 1,800-stall parking structure.    » read more »

As Major Concerns Remain Over NY/NJ/Philly Airspace Redesign, Two Successful Amendments Will Mandate Assessments of Available Options

September 4, 2007 -- (Washington D.C.)- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced today that Washington County has received a $948,124 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation to widen the existing runway at the Washington County Airport.

The grant will widen the current runway from 75 feet to 100 feet, bringing it into compliance with airport design standards. The project also includes updating the runway lighting and markings.    » read more »

August 29, 2007 -- Washington DC – US Senator Harry Reid of Nevada announced more than $6 million in grants to improve airports throughout the state.

“This much needed funding will help improve the infrastructure of some of Nevada’s airports,” said Reid. “As our state grows, we need to make sure that our infrastructure keeps up. This money will help make that happen.”

The Department of Transportation will award grants to the following Nevada airports:

Reno/Tahoe International Airport: $2,000,000 • Noise Mitigation Measures    » read more »

* Web Check-in/Priority Boarding service entirely free
* Airport check-in desk service charged at £2/€3 per person
* All other passengers can purchase priority boarding online