Ireland West Airport Knock are delighted to announce that the Airport has been awarded an Honorary Group Diploma from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). Ireland West Airport Knock was nominated for this prestigious award by the National Aero Club of Ireland in May 2008 for the developments it brought to the West of Ireland on a social and economic level as well for its rapid growth in recent years. The FAI Group Award will be presented to the Airport at the Opening Ceremony of the FAI General Conference in Aosta Valley, Italy on Thursday, 2nd October 2008. Ireland West Airport Knock will be the only Irish organisation to receive an Honorary Group Diploma with other recipients hailing from USA and other parts of Europe.

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For the fourth time in a row, passengers from around the world have selected Munich as Europe’s Best Airport in the World Airport Awards 2008. Over eight million passengers took part in the worldwide survey conducted by Skytrax, an independent aviation research institute. This morning in Munich, Edward Plaisted, the director of the renowned London-based institute, presented the coveted award to Dr. Michael Kerkloh, Munich Airport’s CEO. In the worldwide airport rankings in which a total of 165 airports were assessed in the survey, Munich took fifth place behind the four Asian metropolises of Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. Particularly impressive was Munich’s performance in the “Best International Transit Airport“ category, where it took second place behind the overall winner Hong Kong.

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The Massachusetts Port Authority today dedicated the Boston Logan International Airport 9/11 Memorial as a place of reflection and remembrance for those affected by the events of September 11, 2001. The 2.5 acre site at the heart of the airport acknowledges the events of 9/11 and honors the passengers and crews of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, both of which departed Logan Airport that morning for Los Angeles. The Memorial also commemorates the dedication of the Logan Airport community and the contribution they made in restoring the aviation system to full operation. “September 11 will remain with all of us – especially those who lost loved ones that terrible day and those of us who work in aviation,’’ said Thomas J. Kinton Jr. Massport CEO & Executive Director. “As the airport operator, our intention was to build a public memorial at Logan Airport that acknowledges the tremendous loss for all who had loved ones on those flights, both the heroic flight crews and the passengers as well. We believe this memorial accomplishes that. This memorial tells the story of an event that took people we loved away from us – 147 of them – whose names are inscribed in the glass sculpture sitting on the highest point of the site.’

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At 01:00 on Friday 12 September, Manchester Airport was advised that XL Leisure Group and its subsidiaries have been placed into administration. XL Leisure Group operates flights from Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 under the XL Airways (XL.com) brand. The Company was due to operate seven departing flights from Manchester Airport today with four flights due to arrive.

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On Friday, September 12, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. local time all airlines will cease commercial flight operations in and out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and will not resume until further notice. No airline service is presently expected to operate at IAH on Saturday, September 13, 2008. The Houston Airport System strongly recommends that customers not go to the airports unless they have a confirmed seat and that they have also confirmed with their airline that the flight is still operating. Please check with your airline for further flight schedule changes or contact the Houston Airport System flight tracking information line at 281-230-7000 or www.fly2houston.com for further information.

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Pierre Graff, Chairman and CEO of Aéroports de Paris and Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM today inaugurated the new terminal 2G at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, in the presence of Christine Lagarde, Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment. The decision to build Terminal 2G corresponded to two fundamental requirements, i.e., Air France and its regional subsidiaries, Brit Air, City Jet and Régional, wanted to consolidate their traffic in a single location, and Aéroports de Paris wanted to increase its handling capacity to support the growth in traffic within the Schengen area.

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Port of Portland today thanked the Transportation Security Administration for pledging $60 million to make security screening for checked bags more convenient and comfortable for travelers at Portland International Airport. Port of Portland Executive Director Bill Wyatt acknowledged the grant funding during a briefing at the monthly Port of Portland Commission meeting. On behalf of the Port, Wyatt thanked TSA Federal Security Director Mike Irwin, representing the TSA. When completed in late 2010, the system will move screening equipment out of the airport ticket lobby and behind the scenes, simplifying the bag screening process for travelers and creating more space and comfort in the ticket lobby. The system will also provide additional screening capacity and flexibility, and enhance security.

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bmibaby has today launched stage one of its summer 2009 flight programme with exciting new routes from Manchester Airport to Toulouse and Amsterdam. The two new services commence on 29th March 2009 and both routes are currently not served by any other low cost airline from the airport. bmibaby will operate a double daily service to Amsterdam between Monday and Friday plus an additional service on Sunday. Flights to Toulouse will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Six other European routes will also go on sale today from Manchester to Malaga, Alicante, Bordeaux, Perpignan and Palma. Stage two of summer 2009 will be on sale in the next few weeks. The two new routes bring the total number of destinations served by bmibaby from Manchester to 16.

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The Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX) Gateway Pylons on Century Boulevard will be lit in red, white and blue tonight in commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy. Los AngelesInternationalAirport was tragically linked to the September 11 terrorist attacks on our nation, as three of the four hijacked flights were bound for LAX. The pylons will be lit in these colors beginning at midnight, 12:01 a.m., tonight, September 11, and remain lit until 12:01 a.m., Friday, September 12.

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The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is revising the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and Passenger Security Service Charge (PSSC) at Changi Airport and Seletar Airport with effect from 1 January 2009. The revised charges are as follows:

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The ninth meeting of the Airport Futures Planning Advisory Group is Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Vancouver Hilton’s Pine/Spruce conference rooms, 301 W. 6th Ave. in Vancouver, Wash. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting; public comment is welcome. The meeting includes an overview of the 2000 Portland International Airport Master Plan alternatives and follow-on studies and a preliminary overview of the PDX facility requirements based on approved passenger and operation forecasts. The PAG will also discuss the final recommendation from the Sustainability Subcommittee on the project’s sustainability goal.

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Watch your sales figures go up as bmi’s sale prices go down on destinations across the UK, Europe, Middle East , Russia, Africa and Central Asia from Manchester airport. Special Business Class fares available on selected routes, offering greater comfort for less. Visit www.flybmi.com and book before 30 September for travel until 31 March 2009. bmi jas launched its first better for business sale to all destinations across its worldwide network There’s never been a better time to travel on business from Manchester airport as the offer will include sale prices for both Business and Economy fares on flights across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia and Africa.

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SAN DIEGO — September 9, 2008 — The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority’s Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) on September 4, 2008, moved a step closer to completing Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs) for the five urban airports in San Diego County: Brown Field, Gillespie Field, McClellan-Palomar Airport, Montgomery Field and Oceanside Municipal Airport. These plans provide guidance for property owners and local jurisdictions in determining appropriate land development around airport facilities. The ALUC held a workshop and meeting on September 4 to provide policy direction on several key safety issues that are integral to the development of the ALUCPs. These issues included the density of future residential development and the intensity of future non-residential development that would be allowed near airports.

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Nature lovers will now be able to tell their woodpeckers from their treecreepers and their oaks from their horse chestnuts at a local Hampton-in-Arden beauty spot, following the award of a cash windfall from Birmingham International Airport. Thanks to the award, totalling £2,000, local residents can now find out more about the environment around them at the popular Shadowbrook Woodland & Wildflower Meadow Walk, with the recent addition of an interpretation board which gives an insight into the wildlife and fauna to be found at the 35 acre site.With three differing habitats to enjoy, old woodland, young woodland and wildflower meadows - each having their own distinct set of plants and animals to look out for - there is plenty to see and do, and with the help of the new interpretation board and map, walkers will now be able to identify the wildlife around them.

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Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, has announced two new ski routes from Birmingham. The weekly services to Cuneo and Grenoble will commence on the 20th December 2008. Ryanair has extended these routes until Saturday 18 April 2009 to include next year’s Easter holidays. The new ski routes for 2008/9 are available now from just £25.99 each way (including taxes and charges) for immediate booking on Ryanair.com. Announcing this year’s ski routes, Ryanair’s UK Sales and Marketing Manager Bridget Dowling said: “Once again Ryanair will get you straight to the slopes for less than any other airline this winter. We guarantee the lowest fares and no fuel surcharges to Europe’s best ski resorts. With Ryanair’s low fares, even those feeling the pinch this year can still get away for their week on the piste

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Aer Lingus announced today that it has reached its half millionth booking for flights from Belfast International Airport. The milestone comes as the airline celebrates the first anniversary of the announcement of its investment in its first base outside the Republic Ireland, at Belfast International Airport. Aer Lingus Corporate Affairs Director, Enda Corneille said; “We’r e delighted to have reached the half a million mark and growth continues to be in line with our expectations. The support from the travelling public in Northern Ireland has been fantastic, and with a growing selection of routes on offer to popular sunshine and city break destinations, we hope to build on this success in the months ahead.”

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Montréal, September 7, 2008 — Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) is proud to present a new mobile sculpture by fine arts enamel painter Bernard Séguin-Poirier, on exhibit in the atrium on the transborder departures level of the Montréal–Trudeau airport terminal. This new permanent artwork, 27 feet long and 16 feet wide, depicts an airplane taking off with passengers of different nationalities on board. Titled “Si j’avais des ailes” (If I Had Wings), the mobile sculpture sponsored by ADM is an original work by the artist that was created as part of his Projet Espace Enfant©. The undersides of the plane’s wings incorporate more than 70 small copper enamel artworks made by the children of ADM employees as part of the celebration of the Corporation’s 15th anniversary.

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The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced the start of new air service from Worcester Regional Airport to Orlando/Sanford and Punta Gorda (Ft. Myers), Florida beginning Saturday, November 22. The new air service will be offered by Direct Air. Direct Air will use Airbus A-320 aircraft leased from Virgin America. The aircraft, with 8 first class seats and 141 coach class all leather seats, offers plasma television, touch service screens, satellite radio and telephone and computer connectivity at each seat. The flights will be staffed by Virgin America flight crews. “Today’s announcement is good news for the City of Worcester and the region,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “We must continue to work together to promote the airport in a manner that maximizes its future potential to generate economic growth and opportunity.”

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Members of the Portland International Airport Citizen Noise Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 11 at Portland International Airport to hear an update on the North Runway Extension project and learn the status of the Environmental Assessment, among other topics. Fletcher Hunt, Port of Portland development project manager, will provide an update on the status of the Environmental Assessment, which is following National Environmental Policy Act requirements. The Environmental Assessment covers issues such as air quality, noise, water quality, compatible land uses, and wildlife. The Environmental Assessment also examines whether there are other reasonable alternatives to the proposed action such as non-development alternatives, different runway lengths, and includes a “no-action” alternative. The project has offered numerous opportunities for input from community members and interested parties.

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The Prague Airport Authority is preparing for the regular maintenance of the runway system before the onset of winter. Night operations will be halted on the secondary runway during the period when the main runway is temporarily closed. On 8th September, the Prague Airport Authority will commence its regular maintenance of the takeoff and landing runways. Initially (in the planned period from 8.9. to 19.10.2008), secondary runway RWY 13/31 will be closed. The main runway RWY 06/24 will also be closed to aircraft in the period from 20.10. to 31.10. 2008 and all operations will be transferred to the secondary runway. The autumn preparation of the runways is carried out every year before the onset of the winter operating season so that the runways are ready for winter and so that the safety of the air operations is guaranteed. In winter, the airport runways are not only loaded by the impact forces of the aircraft during takeoff and landing, but also by the weather conditions and the use of antifreeze liquids.

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Port of Portland is beginning an Environmental Assessment of a proposed new runway, which would run parallel to the existing main runway, at Hillsboro Airport. Learn more about the project from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 in the auditorium of the Hillsboro Civic Center at 150 E. Main Street in Hillsboro. The 2005 Hillsboro Airport Master Plan calls for the construction of an additional runway at the airport dedicated exclusively to small general aviation aircraft. Currently, take-offs and landings of aircraft—referred to as operations—at Hillsboro Airport are near capacity; continued growth is expected in the upcoming years. The proposed parallel runway will allow small single- and multi-engine aircraft to take-off and land while existing business and corporate jet aircraft use the current longer and wider runway. Simultaneous arrivals and departures would reduce wait times both on the ground and in the air as planes queue up to land.

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The 240-ton steel structure that will serve Terminal 2 as a temporary baggage sorting hall from November has already been erected at Ferihegy. Also, builders are about to complete the transfer corridor running along the hall. The two structures are necessary since Budapest Airport (BA) is demolishing the parts of the current facilities to make way for its impressive new terminal building, the SkyCourt, which will link Terminals 2A and 2B. There will be a total of six baggage belts twisting and turning along a total length of 600 meters within the 1580 square meter baggage sorting hall. This capacity will be much needed as, come November, all hold baggage and consignments checked in at Terminals 2B will get to the appropriate aircraft through this building.

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Hundreds of local travellers boarded Arkia Israel Airlines to discover the wonders of the Holyland on Wednesday 3rd September on a direct flight from Belfast International to Tel Aviv. The specially chartered service took passengers on a trip to explore the amazing city of Jerusalem and will return in ten days time.

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Auckland International Airport Limited (Auckland Airport) today announced that it has appointed Jason Dale as its new chief financial officer reporting to Simon Moutter, chief executive officer. He will take up his new position in mid October. Jason, 39, joins Auckland Airport from Equity Partners Asset Management where he is currently chief executive officer. Prior to that he spent eight years with dairy co-operative Fonterra in a variety of roles including director group supply chain, group controller, chief internal auditor and commercial director, Fonterra Ingredients. He also acted as Fonterra’s director on several of its international subsidiary companies. Jason has held roles with Bellsouth and KPMG in New Zealand and Canada.

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As the first foreign airline at Copenhagen Airport, Finnair now introduces mobile-phone check-in for its passengers. By using mobile-phone check-in, the airline’s passengers do not have to queue up at the check-in counters, and they can go directly to the security checkpoint if they only have carry-on baggage. It is expected that even more airlines will be linked up to the mobile-phone check-in system shortly. Finnair is the first foreign airline to introduce mobile-phone check-in at Copenhagen Airport. This is, among other things, the result of the airport’s ongoing investments in modern, passenger-friendly check-in technologies, which have been made by the airport and the airlines in a close collaboration. In addition to mobile-phone check-in, Finnair’s about 120,000 locally departing passengers per year can also use the check-in kiosks or check in online.

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