Author: Metropolitan Airport News
Metropolitan Airport News
Produced by a team of aviation professionals and enthusiasts, our mission is to inform and update the more than 68,000 employees who work on the metropolitan New York airport properties, as well as the many others that provide goods and services in the surrounding communities.
United Airlines is giving out face masks as part of a new amenity kit for passengers in the age of Covid-19. “Starting today, we are providing a little amenity kit,” United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz said on Bloomberg Television’s Leadership Live. “It will be a little amenity kit that has a snack, a water and some hand wipes for you as you enter the aircraft, along with a mask if you need it.” The package is branded as “United Clean Plus,” said Munoz, who will become executive chairman after handing the CEO job to United President Scott Kirby this…
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), along with civic and business leaders from across the New York City region, is requesting $3 billion in direct federal assistance to offset the authority’s estimated losses over the next two years due to the coronavirus crisis. The request, which noted air travel to New York area airports is down 97 percent, came in a letter outlining the need to add a “multi-state agencies” category to the list of state and local entities eligible for direct federal financial assistance. The Port Authority said it does not rely on funding from…
William J. McShane of Babylon, a respected statewide aviation leader, who was instrumental in helping bring the Bethpage Air Show to Jones Beach over 15 years ago, has died at the age of 61 after a long illness. Prior to his passing, Bill was Vice President of Business Development & Special Projects for Sheltair Aviation which provides general aviation services at the region’s major airports. His tenure was the capstone to a lifelong career in aviation that included serving as past president of the New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA), where he remained a board member. For the last dozen years he…
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has tentatively picked 10 locations across the country, which include mostly airports, for its reimbursable services program. The program allows private sector and public agencies to reimburse CBP for expanded services for incoming cargo traffic and international traveler arrivals. The agency expects this program to assist with the supply chain upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “Reimbursable services agreements help CBP facilitate the cross-border movement of food, fuel, workers and life-saving medicines that are needed to protect our nation,” said Todd Owen, executive assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Field Operations, in a statement.…
The retirement will accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize its fleet, while continuing to operate newer, more cost-efficient aircraft. “We’re making strategic, cost-effective changes to our fleet to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring Delta is well-positioned for the recovery on the backside of the crisis,” said Gil West, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer. “The 777 has been a reliable part of Delta’s success since it joined the fleet in 1999 and because of its unique operating characteristics, opened new non-stop, ultra-long-haul markets that only it could fly at that time.” Last month, Delta…
Boeing has been joined by the other mega-sized aircraft builder, Airbus, with financial woes. According to industry analysts, the cash-flow and demand problems will result in deep employee cuts in the future. One might say that Boeing welcomes the company since Airbus has been eating into Boeing customer base in the wake of the 737 MAX disaster. Guillarme Faury, CEO of Airbus said; “The survival of Airbus is in question if we don’t act now,” he wrote in a letter to staff sent on April 24th. Airbus was “bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed,” Faury said. “We must now act…
With COVID-19 devastating the globe and drastically reducing passenger flights on an international scale, along with a decrease of cargo flights (which are still considered as essential businesses), The ARK at JFK – which originally opened and operated as an animal reception terminal and quarantine, bio-secure facility – provides an even more critical function now more than ever, when health and hygiene come first and foremost. Most recently, The ARK at JFK expanded its business lines (in addition to animal transport) during the time of COVID-19, by working with the medical community – specifically medical eggs which are utilized in the development and manufacture of flu, MMR and…
With food insecurity at all-time high, particular in the New Jersey and New York areas, hardest hit by COVID-19, United Airline recently donated food that was to be used to serve their customers from Newark Airport. United donated over 15,000lbs. of perishable and non-perishable goods, which was split between their existing local community partners including City Harvest, Food Bank of South Jersey and Community Food Bank of New Jersey. “United Airlines core value is connecting people, uniting the world, and that starts within our local communities,” said Jill Kaplan, President of New Jersey/New York for United Airlines. “As a company,…
During the week of April 27th, 2020 GatewayJFK, a business improvement district in Southeast Queens sent 745 meals from restaurants in their neighborhood to frontline workers at Jamaica Hospital, the MTA, DSNY, Wildcat Sanitation Services, and the NYPD. In addition to donating meals as a way to say “thank you” to frontline workers, GatewayJFK launched their effort as a way to help keep local restaurants open and keep their staff working. To provide the meals, GatewayJFK partnered with 5 anchor restaurants in their neighborhood; Rockaway Plaza Delicatessen, New Castle Deli & Grocery, Boulevard Deli & Grill, Patriots Deli & Grill,…
Alaska Airlines is currently putting its Boeing 737 jets to the test as cargo-only aircraft during this COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, Alaska Airlines announced its intention to use passenger jets for cargo-only operations. Alaska Airlines is going to use six 737-900s for cargo-only flights. These select flights will be used to carry essential goods like medical supplies and PPE, along with mail and food. The statement said that by filling the aircraft with cargo, it would help make up for the loss in capacity following restrictions imposed by the coronavirus crisis. When speaking about Alaska Airlines plan to use…