Blue-ribbon airport authority

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority will receive the Veterans Employee of the Year award from the California Employer Advisory Council on May 9.

The council says it gives the award to employers who consistently demonstrate positive policies toward U.S. veterans in hiring, promotion, employee retention efforts, ongoing training and benefits.

The San Diego area has a large veteran and military population and the authority organizes an annual veterans job fair, among other initiatives.

Of the authority’s 337 employees, 62 are veterans. Eight of these employees are disabled veterans.

Full discolsure: my dad is a retired Army social worker and one of my uncles is a jarhead.

Giant scissors, balloon sales on the rise

Yesterday was a jam-packed day at Austin-Bergstrom International airport. VivaAerobus, JetBlue Airways and Air Canada held ribbon cutting ceremonies-complete with water cannon salutes, colorful balloon displays and oversized scissors-in honor of new service launches.

There was more activity at one time at the airpot than there has been in the past five years, Austin airport director Jim Smith tells me.

Northwest Airlines and Southwest Airlines also inaugurate new service from the Texas capital this month.

Destinations available from Austin have jumped to 52 from 42 between 2007 and 2008, he says.

Austin’s youth and money-home of the highest median income in Texas-help make it happen, Smith says. A smart staff helps too.

With the exception of the women who was taking her first ever flight-with her boyfriend’s family nonetheless-VivaAerobus customers en route to Cancun were jazzed(see pictures in the new low-cost terminal below).

Passengers included a mother and daughter from San Antonio who otherwise would have waited until later in the year to take a vacation and a group of friends from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area who said the three-hour drive to Austin was worth it for VivaAerobus' fares. Three hours? Hmm… Then again, some people commute three hours, roundtrip, to get to work in Washington, DC, daily. Yikes. A vacation sounds much better.



















VivaAerobus CEO Mike Szucs above and with airline spokesman Juan Carlos Zuazua below.

Lime but not sour

Work is nearly complete on the low-cost terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The lime green facility opens on the south end of the airport in time for Mexican budget carrier VivaAerobus to launch transborder service between the Texas capital and Monterrey and Cancun tomorrow.


Once used by the National Guard, the terminal was originally a kaki color meant to blend with other buildings on the former military base. It was painted green so that it is easier to locate.

And the “vibrant color is similar to the destinations we hope to offer and do offer,” says Laurie Doran, terminal manager for Austin AIB One, an affiliate of GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS).

GECAS leased up to 40 acres from the City of Austin Aviation Department to construct, operate and maintain the terminal for 30 years.

While the terminal is lacking in amenities such as jetways, the facility boasts the airport’s only Duty Free shop (picture below) and a periodicals stand. A full- service restaurant and bar, with meals to go, is forthcoming, as well as food and beverage kiosks. There are three rental car companies at the terminal and the waiting area seats around 100 people.

Busy busy at Austin

I will be touring the new low-cost terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Wednesday. The terminal opens Thursday with the arrival of Mexican budget startup VivaAeroBus.

VivaAeroBus will link the Live Music Capitol of the World with Monterrey and Cancun.

On the same day, Air Canada will begin nonstop service to Toronto; JetBlue Airways will connect Austin with Ft. Lauderdale, San Francisco, Orlando and Long Beach.

Northwest Airlines will add nonstop flights to Indianapolis on Friday.

And if that weren't enough, Southwest Airlines will compete with JetBlue on flights to Ft. Lauderdale starting May 10. On the same day, Southwest will add Oakland flights at Austin.

Say that five times fast.

The sound of music

Forget Lollapalooza. Chicago O'Hare International Airport is where it's at for live music in the Windy City. At least for the day.

To kick off its new overhead music program at O’Hare and Midway, the Chicago Department of Aviation sponsored a slew of live performances by Chicago-area musicians today.

Polka artist Eddie Blazonczyk Jr., singer-songwriter Kelly Hogan, classical violinist Rachel Barton-Pine and blues singer and guitarist Lonnie Brooks did what they do best, presumably not all at the same time.

If only the airport had live performances daily, similar to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Next time detholz! should play at O'Hare.

Celeb unhappy at airport

You know something has to give when fashion blogs are chiding the aviation industry.

Aloha

Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated service from Manila to Honolulu yesterday.

Of course there was a party at Honolulu International Airport to celebrate the Boeing 767-300ER operator's expansion into Asia.

No party would be complete without hula and Hawaiian music ....

... or without Hawaiian CEO Mark Dunkerley, right. Eddie Flores, founder of L&L Drive-In, is on the left.















Pics courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines.