How healthy is your airport? Phoenix tops list
— -- Phoenix Sky Harbor is America's healthiest airport, according to Health magazine. In ranking 10 airports, the magazine looked for amenities and services that promote healthy living and lower passenger stress.
The criteria included food, relaxation zones, walking paths, music, lighting, environmental programs and safety technology.
Industry data and a panel of experts were used in compiling the list.
Phoenix Sky Harbor was cited for its "healthful" restaurants, video-paging system, two pet parks and clean bathrooms.
Other airports on the list, in order, and the amenities cited by the rankings:
• Baltimore/Washington (soft music and lighting, a spa and a hiking path near the airport).
• Chicago O'Hare (healthy restaurant food, children's play areas and the fitness facility in its on-site Hilton Hotel).
• Detroit Metropolitan ("storm-ready" police officers and employees who are trained as bad-weather spotters, healthy restaurant food).
• Denver (solar energy panels, recycling of de-icing fluids, an art collection, free Wi-Fi and healthy restaurant food).
• Ronald Reagan Washington National (an art collection, a walking and biking trail).
• Dallas/Fort Worth (children's play areas, hybrid/CNG vehicles, healthy restaurant food).
• Boston Logan (environmental initiatives, CNG shuttle buses).
• Portland, Ore. (a paved bicycle and walking path, covered bicycle parking, local musicians playing in the terminals).
• Philadelphia (a health clinic, free Wi-Fi on weekends).
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES: Closure in St. Louis
• In a cost-cutting move, Lambert-St. Louis will indefinitely close a 12-gate section of Concourse D. The gates are vacant, the leases having already expired. Lambert will build walls at either end of the section.
The move is projected to save Lambert about $900,000 a year in electricity, escalator maintenance, trash removal and cleaning services. It's part of a $2.7 million budget reduction to help Lambert "better position itself in the wake of a nationwide downturn in airline passenger activity," the airport says.
• Federal officials have approved a plan to extend Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail system to Washington Dulles International, an important step in obtaining about $900 million of federal funding.
The entire project, which is estimated to cost $5.2 billion, was in jeopardy after cost concerns nearly derailed it a year ago. The 23-mile extension in Northern Virginia, proponents say, would help relieve congestion and give travelers direct public transportation to the airport.
NEW AT AIRPORTS: Lounging at LAX
• Los Angeles International has opened a business lounge for all passengers. Called reLAX, the lounge costs $25 for three hours of use and includes soft chairs, free snacks and drinks, Wi-Fi and business services. The lounge is located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
• Passengers at Houston Bush Intercontinental can now participate in holiday karaoke. Microphones and monitors will be set up at various spots throughout the airport until Dec. 23.
• Seattle-Tacoma says it's offering prime parking spaces with plug-ins for electric vehicles at its main garage. The pilot program includes six spaces that will provide free electric charging.