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Regional
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FAA gives Hartsfield-Jackson $40 million for improvements
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced that Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will receive grants of more than $40 million USD to improve safety and capacity at the world’s busiest airport.
The grants include $7.1 million USD for improvements to the safety area of Runway 27 Right -- the airport’s longest runway; $8 million USD to repair the areas where aircraft are loaded, unloaded and maintained; $7 million USD toward a new taxiway that opened in April; and an $18.3 million USD payment toward the airport’s fifth runway, which opened last year and cost about $1 billion USD.
FAA officials said the funds were allocated to Hartsfield-Jackson in part because of the airport's history of innovation and solutions to meet increased demand for air travel. Nearly 86 million passengers on more than 980,000 flights pass through Hartsfield-Jackson each year, which equates to a flight taking off or landing about every 30 seconds.
Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Walk-in medical clinic opens at Atlanta airport
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recently opened a walk-in medical clinic located in a pre-security area above the main terminal. The facility, operated by Atlanta-based AeroClinic, is staffed by nurse practitioners and physicians assistants who can provide general treatment for illnesses, perform physical exams and drug testing, and offer preventive care services such as blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring. The clinic can also fill some prescriptions.
Prices range from $10 USD for preventative care to between $75 and $85 USD for acute care services. No appointments are needed, and each visit takes about 15 minutes.
Currently, Aetna insurance coverage is accepted, and the company is in discussions with other major insurance providers to receive their coverage.
Source: USA TODAY
JFK Airport offers free parking for those picking up travelers
People picking up arriving passengers at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport now have a designated area where they can park for free while they wait. The new “cellphone parking lot” is designed for short-term parking until the person receives a call from the arriving passenger. The new lot is located near the airport's entrance - just off the Van Wyck Expressway.
In the past, drivers would have to circle the airport or attempt to wait in no-parking areas as they looked for their arriving passengers. This new option hopefully will relieve congestion around the JFK terminal during the busy summer travel season.
This concept is new for the New York area and is not offered at the other Port Authority airports – LaGuardia and Newark. For New York and other metropolitan areas, the biggest challenge in offering this service is finding available space. While the concept itself is relatively new, other U.S. airports – such as Denver, Chicago O’Hare and Miami - have begun to offer similar parking lots. Salt Lake City International Airport’s “Park and Wait” lot even offers three large electronic signs that display flight arrival information.
Source: USA TODAY, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
