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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1496.PDF
be able to expand to another 20 gates or more. It will be the only terminal at Kennedy with an AirTrain station inside the passenger facility. Elsewhere, sheltered connectors with moving walkways will run between the light rail stops and the terminals. MEGA-TERMINAL Meanwhile, in January, American Airlines - the airport's largest air carrier - initiated a seven- year project to convert Terminals 8 and 9 into a $1 billion "mega-terminal," the largest at the A $ 150 million facelift is under way as a stopgap measure for the airport's second largest cus tomer. Work includes airbridges, new baggage facilities and additional gates. Terminal 5, which was designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen and considered a land mark, appears safe from the wrecking ball, and remains the home of Trans World Airlines, the airport's third largest carrier. United Airlines operates in Terminal 6 with JetBlue, a new low-fare domestic US air carrier, but also in Terminal 7, where it leases six gates mran i»&~ New legislation has loosened slot restrictions which will allow more US carriers to serve Kennedy airport serving both domestic and internation al passengers. The complex will include new parking, 220 check-in counters, 13 baggage carousels, shops, restaurants, three concourses and 59 aircraft gates, including 18 for regional jets operated by American Eagle. The con struction will be done in four phases, with com pletion due in 2006. Delta Air Lines, which occupies Terminals 2 and 3, has yet to decide how to grow at Kennedy, but it may construct another $1 billion mega-terminal at the airport. for international flights from British Airways. United may soon launch a major renovation of Terminal 6 as part of an effort to consolidate operations and grow at Kennedy. "As a result of the Port Authority's commit ment to rebuild Kennedy Airport, we have seen a tremendous surge in interest from the airlines - both domestic and international carriers.- to increase service atJFK," says William DeCota, the Port Authority's director of aviation. DeCota's strategy is to attract air carriers which have schedules opposite those of transatlantic operators. Smolenski says the idea is to "max imise utilisation of the space we have. Leaving gates empty several hours a day does not allow for good use of your resources." For example, new entrants Spirit Airlines and Eastwind Airlines operate several flights at Kennedy and JetBlue launched a domestic ser vice in February, investing $60 million in termi nal improvements. DeCota says JetBlue's decision to base itself at the airport "is another piece in the overall solidification of JFK as one of the world's greatest airports. In stages, we are seeing a complete remake of this airport." JetBlue has ordered 2 5 new Airbus A3 20s and optioned another 50 of the International Aero Engines V2500-powered aircraft in a deal worth $4 billion. It plans to serve 11 US desti nations by the end of this year with ten A320s and 3 0 US cities within three years. It also plans to begin overnight transcontinental flights this summer to increase aircraft utilisation. JetBlue will receive an A3 20 every five weeks over the next three years. WHITE HOUSE HELP Helping DeCota's campaign for new business is US President Bill Clinton, who recently signed into law the US FAA $40 billion reauthorisation bill (AIR-21) which allows more US carriers to serve four previously slot-restricted airports, including Kennedy. The law authorises new- entrant airlines and those serving small com munities with small civil transports to add services at Kennedy. The legislation begins the phasing out of slot restrictions which were implemented in 1969 to address severe congestion and delay problems at airports. In 1994, some exemptions were granted for new carriers, but the new law states that all slot restrictions will be eliminated on 1 July, 2002, at Chicago's O'Hare and 1 January, 2007 at Kennedy and LaGuardia. In addition, the legislation immediately exempts new or additional service to small com munities by aircraft with fewer than 71 seats. It also allows airlines with limited operations to increase service at the New York airports to a total of 20 slots each. US passenger and cargo carrier Tower Air has been a long-term tenant at Kennedy, investing $10 million in its headquarters at the airport over the years, but its long-term presence there remains in doubt. In March, Tower Air filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after laying off 300 workers - 18% of its workforce - as part of a company restructuring plan designed to cut costs. Tower vows to continue flying, although its limited scheduled passenger services have been halted, and its fleet was recently reduced to 11 Boeing 747s. • I "As a result of out commitment to rebuild Kennedy, we have seen a tremendous surge in interest from the airlines to increase service." - William DeCota, Port Authority director of aviation FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 9 - 15 May 2000 39
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