Behind the scenes at Bush airport during one of the busiest travel days of the year
On the next Houston Life, weโre getting you ready for the holidays. Monday is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Weโre giving you an exclusive behind the scenes look at the airport. How the planes are prepped, plus the new technology - like artificial intelligence- used to get your bags to the correction destination. Coming fly away with us, Monday at 1:00 p.m. on Houston Life!
Holiday travel: Experts say plan now for busy Thanksgiving travel
Fort Worth-based American Airlines has canceled thousands of flights since Friday. And while the airline is getting back to normal for now, itโs the second time in the past few weeks that weโve seen a major airline knocked offline by weather or other factors.
Bush airport named TSAโs 2020 Airport of the Year for the second consecutive year
HOUSTON โ George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston is the 2020 Airport of the Year, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA team in Houston consists of more than 1,100 employees, which includes TSA officers, inspectors, canine handlers, explosives experts, managers and program analysts. The award recognizes team achievements in key operations and mission support functions, such as measurable improvements, superior performance, notable innovation and significant operational improvements in support of TSAโs mission. โWe are honored to be named TSAโs 2020 Airport of the year,โ Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said. โOn behalf of the entire team at Bush Airport and the traveling public, I also congratulate the George Bush Intercontinental Airport TSA team for their invaluable commitment to safety and efficiency throughout this challenging year.
Houston airports suffering amid less holiday travel and COVID-19
HOUSTON โ Holiday weekend travel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport is down dramatically from past years. โThis is going to be our peak of number of passengers since April,โ said Houston Airport System spokesperson Augusto Bernal. However, TSA data shows only 87,000 passengers traveled by plane on April 14. As of this morning, the airport system showed 60% of parking available at both major airports. โUnfortunately a lot has been shut down, a lot has been closed,โ said Rob Wigington, the Executive Director of Airport Restaurant and Retail Association.
New Berlin airport opens 9 years late with little ceremony
Berlin's new airport opens after years of delays and cost overruns. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)BERLIN โ Nine years late and far above its original budget, Berlin's new airport finally opened on Saturday with little fanfare as the aviation industry struggles with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Construction of the Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt, named after the former West German chancellor though better known as BER, started in 2006 and it was initially slated to open in October 2011. โFinally we can put our airport into operation โ finally,โ airport CEO Engelbert Luetke Daldrup said at a brief opening ceremony with national and regional officials. The opening of the new airport's Terminal 2 has been delayed until early next year because it isn't currently needed.
San Antonio ordered to lift ban on Chick-fil-A at international airport
SAN ANTONIO โ The City of San Antonio has been ordered to lift the ban on Chick-fil-A at the cityโs international airport. The order comes after the city council banned the restaurant from the airport with a 6-4 council vote. An investigation into the cityโs potential violation of federal law and Transportation Department regulations went into effect when the city was suspected of banning Chick-fil-A from operating a restaurant in the San Antonio International Airport based on the companyโs religious beliefs. The Federal Aviation Administration announced that San Antonio International Airport will offer Chick-fil-A a lease opportunity for space in Terminal A. "To exclude a respected vendor based on religious beliefs is the opposite of tolerance and is inconsistent with the Constitution, Texas law, and Texas values.
Person hit and killed by Southwest airplane on runway in Austin, airport says
HOUSTON โ A person was struck and killed by a Southwest airplane Thursday night on a runway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, according to the airport. โAUS is aware of an individual that was struck and killed on runway 17R by a landing aircraft earlier this evening,โ the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport wrote on Twitter. โReported person possibly struck by an airplane o a runway. Multiple assets responding 3600 Presidential Blvd (20:22) Reported person possibly struck by an airplane on a runway. โ ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) May 8, 2020
Airports face financial impact from coronavirus pandemic
Just two months ago, the Houston Airport System touted a record year with 59 million passengers moving through George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport in 2019. Airport operations rely on passenger facility charges, better known as a PFC. Every time a Houston-area passenger books a flight through one of the Houston airports, $4.50 of the ticket price goes back to the airport system. โLet me say the airport system has done a pretty good job establishing a meaningful reserve, I believe itโs $500 million,โ Turner said. On March 17, KPRC 2 was provided with an email from a high ranking city official showing numerous airport projects were being deferred or canceled.
This is how big venues, airports in Houston are protecting against spread of coronavirus
HOUSTON โ A number of large venues across Houston from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport to the Toyota Center are taking steps to combat the coronavirus. โWe know a lot of people travel through our airports, so we really want to emphasize our message, and just to do our part,โ said Houston Airport System spokesperson Augusto Bernal. There are eight total coronavirus cases in the Houston area โ three confirmed cases and five presumptive positive cases. Here is the official statement from the Toyota Center:The Houston Rockets and Toyota Center have implemented preventive measures recommended by the NBA and local and national healthcare professionals. Toyota Center has enhanced the cleaning and disinfection process of the facility between events.
TSA: IAH among top 5 airports where most guns found in 2019
HOUSTON โ George Bush Intercontinental Airport is among the top five airports where Transportation Security Administration officers found the most guns in 2019. IAH officers detected 138 guns in carry-on bags or on passengers last year, authorities announced Wednesday. NEWS: TSA officers caught more firearms at checkpoints nationwide in 2019 than ever before in the agencyโs 18-year history. Read the full press release: https://t.co/n3Zqyfpcnx pic.twitter.com/Qejm69lzwy โ TSA (@TSA) January 15, 2020The IAH information was part of a news release that also announced that TSA officers found more firearms at checkpoints nationwide in 2019 than ever before in the agencyโs 18-year history. The top five airports where TSA officers detected guns at checkpoints in 2019 were:1.
CDC to screen at three US airports for signs of new deadly virus from China
WUHAN, China โ More than 100 staffers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are being deployed to three US airports to check passengers arriving from Wuhan, China, for fever and other symptoms of a mysterious new virus that's killed two and infected dozens in China, the CDC announced Friday. The CDC took these steps after travelers from Wuhan recently arrived in Thailand and Japan infected with the new virus. He added that much more common illnesses, such as the flu, are "much bigger threats" to Americans than the new virus from China. To learn more about this new virus, health authorities are taking a close look at SARS. SARS did spread person to person through close contact such as kissing, sharing utensils or talking to someone within 3 feet.
Hobby Airport beats out Bush Intercontinental Airport for domestic travel to Houston, report finds
1, while the San Antonio International Airport came in at No. Ontario International Airport - Ontario, California8. Sacramento International Airport - Sacramento, California9. San Antonio International Airport - San Antonio, Texas10. Portland International Airport - Portland, OregonClick here to view the full report and methodology.