Development At Airports Key To Transatlantic Traffic

<B>Development At Airports Key To Transatlantic Traffic</B>

<B>Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport:</B> Atlanta is a rising star in the airport firmament. Rated by Airports Council International as the world's busiest airport for 1999 and for 2000's first nine months, Hartsfield reported 78 million passengers in 1999. Since the 1994 opening of a $300 million international concourse, its domestic concourses and terminal building all have been renovated.<B>

Miami International Airport:</B> With 33.9 million passengers annually, Miami International operates with 120 gates and 95 scheduled and 40 non-scheduled air carriers. Public information officer Cynthia Paul said a $5.4 billion improvement saw its first stage completed last year. The sweeping work includes the construction of a new terminal right above the original terminal, and the reshaping of the concourses into a new, 47-gate linear terminal. This facility is slated for a 2004-2005 completion. Additional windows will brighten the interior, while an underutilized moving walkway system will be made more visible. The improvements also will result in a fourth, 8,600-ft. runway, better signage, and widened roads and access ramps to ease in- and out-coming traffic.

<B>JFK International Airport:</B> One of the key air hubs for the New York area, JFK serves nearly 32 million passengers annually. A $9 billion construction project is underway, which, among other things, has created or reconfigured 26 miles of roadways for direct connections between terminals, parking lots and major access highways. A light rail, AirTrain, by 2002 will connect the airport with various points in New York. New features include a new parking garage and control tower. Four terminals are under renovation, three with a $1.6 billion investment from Delta, scheduled for a 2004 completion. United Airlines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also are undertaking a series of improvements, including the modernization of Terminal 5. (See story, page 30.)

<B>Logan International Airport:</B> Logan now is handling 26 million passengers, with 81 gates, five terminals and 55 scheduled and non-scheduled air carriers. A large-scale modernization of the airport is underway, said Phil Orlandella, director of media relations for Logan. This project includes a series of constructions dealing with an overall expansion of all terminals and a double-deck roadway that will allow for arrivals on a lower level and departures above. One terminal has new, moving sidewalks; all terminals will feature these sidewalks in the near future. Additional work is being done to connect Logan to downtown Boston. An existing shuttle bus will be made more direct once work on a direct tunnel--part of Boston's "Big Dig" project--is complete. Completion of that construction project is estimated to be reached no earlier than 2003.

<B>Heathrow International Airport:</B> Heathrow officials recently reported the completion of a $216,915,000 improvement to Terminal 3--used by U.S. carriers and Virgin Atlantic--and improved facilities for business travelers. Other improvements include the international arrivals area in Terminal 1, arrivals area in Terminal 4 and the complete redevelopment of Terminal 2 departures. The airport manages 62 million passengers annually on two runways. A new 15-minute express rail link connects Heathrow with London Paddington, helping travelers to avoid the long, local subway ride. "The Island," a facility with a business center, catering and showers, is available to all travelers for $38, while Baggage Direct now relieves travelers of their baggage and delivers it to any address in central London.

<B>Frankfurt International Airport:</B> Yet another airport experiencing unprecedented passenger traffic, Frankfurt saw 46 million passengers in 1999 and estimated that 2000 will bring 50 million. Its most significant restructuring has to do with its rail connections, as an air-rail terminal already provides direct intercity services to the airport. Eventually, the airport rail center, which will begin construction next spring, will be part of Europe's high-speed network. The station's facilities will include one three-star and one five-star hotel owned by the Accor group. The station also will feature a medical wellness center, retail and leisure establishments, and 1,000 parking spaces. Frankfurt Airport's strategy is to direct many short-haul flights to the rail networks. A new partnership with Deutsche Bahn and Lufthansa will allow passengers to check in their luggage at the start of a rail-airport connection; upon arrival, their bags automatically will be transferred to their flight. Terminal 1 is being expanded and modernized, with a new pier that now allows for 13 aircraft to dock at once, allowing passengers to escape the old habit of crossing the tarmac. The airport is planning to build a fourth runway by 2006.

<B>Roissy Charles De Gaulle:</B> Having surpassed Orly as Paris' premier transcontinental airport, Roissy welcomed transplant American Airlines last year. AA has settled into its newly built satellite center at Terminal 2A. The airport has two terminals, with the second in five separate halls. Meanwhile, passenger traffic at Roissy may be eased with a potential third Paris airport--a move that Aeroports de Paris chairman Yves Cousquer called "unavoidable." With an annual passenger traffic of more than 43 million, the airport saw a 13 percent leap in 1999. Plans for additional runway capacity should allow Roissy to keep up with its growth. Terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2F are all the products of new construction. New TGV air-to-rail connections now are routing travelers to Lille, Lyon and Nantes; other French cities may be added in the future.

<B>Schipol, Amsterdam:</B> Schipol, a one-terminal airport, has raised its available gates from 74 to 88, and will have 111 by 2004. It hosted 37 million passengers in 1999. This month, Schipol announced it will invest about $1.2 billion into its expansion over the next four years. The project will begin with the 2001 construction of a new pier for small- and medium-size aircraft. A sixth runway is set for completion by 2003. The expansion's second stage will begin in 2004, with construction of a ninth pier for large aircraft, which should be complete by 2006.