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Regional
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- O’Hare ticket taxes may help fund expansion
- Two southern California airports add ‘LA’ to their names
- Halifax airport goes smoke free
O’Hare ticket taxes may help fund expansion
The city of Chicago this month is seeking Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permission to use passenger ticket taxes to help pay for expansion at O’Hare International Airport that could reduce flight delays by 68 percent. The tax, commonly referred to as the passenger facility charge, is already collected, though the FAA must approve spending the money.
“It’s not a new tax… It doesn’t affect travelers,” said O’Hare expansion project director Rosemarie Andolino. “What does affect travelers is we’re building those runways that are long overdue at O’Hare.”
Andolino references reconfiguration plans that are central to the expansion – runways that currently intersect would be made parallel, allowing for increased capacity and fewer delays, and a new terminal would be constructed, with additional gates and parking on the west side of the airport. These projects would require that the airport acquire hundreds of nearby properties and pay relocation fees to the displaced residents and businesses.
Sources: The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press
Two southern California airports add ‘LA’ to their names
Two airports in southern California, Ontario International Airport and Palmdale Regional Airport, recently capitalized on their proximity to Los Angeles by adding ‘LA’ to their names in an effort to gain visibility and attract more travelers.
LA/Ontario International Airport is located 65 miles north of Los Angeles and LA/Palmdale Regional Airport is located 40 miles east of the city. Both airports are hopeful their new names will help lighten travel loads at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and attract airlines and passengers in the process.
Early signs show progress – commuter airline ExpressJet recently announced it will offer 29 daily nonstop flights from LA/Ontario, and the Los Angeles Airport Commission is expected to allow United Airlines to operate two daily flights from LA/Palmdale to San Francisco beginning in June.
Renaming airports near major cities has become increasingly popular in recent years. For example, the Manchester, New Hampshire airport renamed itself to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to capitalize on its proximity to Boston.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, ExpressJet
Halifax airport goes smoke free
Travelers departing from or connecting through Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport will no longer be able to smoke in what was the designated smoking area on the departures level. The provincial government recently amended its Smoke-free Places Act to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants, on patios, and at events held in private clubs, community centres, arenas and firehalls, and airports are no exception.
Passengers who wish to smoke may do so outside the terminal building, in designated areas at least four meters from entrances.
Sources: Travel Courier, Halifax International Airport Authority
