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.
JetBlue announced it has taken delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft, with tail N4022J arriving at JetBlue’s home at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 5 this afternoon. This A321LR was assembled at the Airbus production facility in Hamburg, Germany and will enable JetBlue to launch its first-ever transatlantic service between the U.S. and London this summer. “The delivery of our new A321LR sets the stage for a new era at JetBlue in which we now have an aircraft allowing us to stretch our wings and become a true global carrier offering flights beyond…
JetBlue today announced its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft has officially entered scheduled service with the first revenue flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Tampa International Airport (TPA) departing just before 5 o’clock this evening. The aircraft – which was assembled at Airbus’s U.S. production facility in Mobile, Ala. – is scheduled to operate between the Northeast and Florida for the next several weeks. JetBlue’s second A220 is on track for delivery in the coming days, with the third expected to arrive next month. “We selected the Airbus A220 nearly three years ago knowing its cost savings, superior performance…
JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV), the venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue Airways, today announced its investment in Universal Hydrogen, the company fueling carbon-free flight, as part of its $20.5M Series A funding round. The financing allows Universal Hydrogen to accelerate the development of its hydrogen logistics network and regional aircraft conversion kits, and bolsters its burgeoning commercial activities. JTV’s primary goal is to better position JetBlue with startup-led innovation set to disrupt the travel industry, ultimately helping JetBlue chart a path toward net zero emissions. JTV supports JetBlue’s ambitious sustainability strategy and targets by investing in technology focusing on advanced methods of measuring and reducing emissions, improved…
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners today approved the agreement on key terms with Delta Air Lines and JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT), the operator of Terminal 4, to expand Terminal 4 and consolidate Delta operations there, a key step in the transformation of John F. Kennedy International Airport into a 21st-century global gateway. The now $1.5-billion project, which is being financed by private capital, was initially authorized by the Board in February 2020 as a $3.8-billion expansion and modernization. The revised plan, prompted by the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air…
The record tourist year of 2019 resulted in a 72 billion-dollar economic injection for New York City businesses, and now, political leaders are trying to bring back those heady times with a advertising and public relations campaign. As the hotel and restaurant industry begins to recover, there are questions about Covid-19’s impact and what the future has in store. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $30 million tourism marketing blitz beginning in June. This will be the city’s largest-ever campaign to recharge the moribund industry, which at one time employed 400,000 workers and injected billions into the local economy. “We are open for business,” de…
With an anticipated busy summer season close by, Southwest Airlines added flight attendants to the cabin crews already slated to be back at work this summer. Several weeks ago, with favorable trends continuing Southwest recalled more than 200 pilots who took a voluntary leave when numerous flights were canceled because of the Coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, Southwest officials say the pilots will be recalled to “active status” on June 1st to “support the upcoming summer schedule.” The Transportation Security Administration has also been seeing a sharp increase in airport passengers. They noted that on the week of March 28th,…
US airports with a cargo focus last year saw their freight volumes grow rapidly as consumers switched to e-commerce, according to new research by Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development. The report, written by Joseph Schwieterman and Euan Hague, found that freight volumes at cargo-focused airports last year increased by an average of 31.4% compared with 2019. Meanwhile, the top 10 mixed purpose airports that are an operational focus for DHL, FedEx and UPS saw their volumes increase by 9%. “The year 2020 was a time of substantial growth at airports that are hubs for companies specializing in air cargo. Surging…
UPS said that through its UPS Flight Forward subsidiary it would purchase the electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) from Beta Technologies to augment its air service for select small and mid-size markets. The first ten aircraft are scheduled to begin arriving in 2024, with an option to purchase up to 150 of the aircraft. UPS said the 635kg capacity aircraft is suited for time-sensitive deliveries that would otherwise fly on small fixed-wing aircraft. They will take-off and land at UPS facilities. “UPS’s use of the aircraft will benefit healthcare providers, thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, and other companies…
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in partnership with the City of New York, JetBlue Airways and Northwell Direct, has opened a new COVID-19 vaccination clinic at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The free pop-up vaccination site which opened on Wednesday, April 21st will serve airport employees only, with appointments required. The vaccine doses are being provided to the airport community by the city’s Department of Health. The clinic being stood up at Terminal 5 will provide greater flexibility for employees who work both morning and evening shifts. “We’re taking the steps today to make it easier…
The five airports operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) — John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Teterboro Airport — along with their terminals and fixed-base operators, have earned the gold standard of cleanliness, GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation, through the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. The certification makes PANYNJ the largest airport system to achieve GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation to date. “For facilities like international airports, GBAC STAR accreditation strengthens quality management systems that enables airport terminals to effectively identify,…