Airport Check-in: Pittsburgh first to get stimulus money
— -- WHAT'S NEW
Pittsburgh International
Pittsburgh International says it will be the first airport to receive infrastructure project funding from President Obama's stimulus package.
"This funding will most certainly increase jobs," said Glenn Mahone, chairman of Allegheny County Airport Authority, which runs the airport.
The airport will spend its $10 million grant to repave and improve lighting on a crosswind runway, a project that will begin this summer and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.
Obama's stimulus program added $1.1 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program funds, which currently total about $3.5 billion a year. The AIP grants are given to airports for safety, capacity and environmental projects.
Miami International
Miami International has installed flight information display monitors at nearby hotels. The monitors are available in the lobby of Hilton Miami Airport, Wyndham Miami Airport Hotel and the on-airport MIA Hotel. Hotel Sofitel Miami will add it later this year. The system's real-time flight information is also available on in-room TVs.
Sacramento International
Sacramento International's plans to build a 184-room hotel that connects to a new central terminal building have been scrapped because it can't find sufficient financing.
It may still build an on-airport hotel in the future, either as a stand-alone structure, on top of a parking garage or as part of a new business park. The new terminal, which will replace the aging Terminal B, is scheduled to open in 2012.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
A federal appeals court has upheld a local law that bans people from bringing firearms to the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
A local group, GeorgiaCarry, sued the city of Atlanta and Hartsfield for banning guns in all areas of the airport.
Hartsfield specifically banned firearms after Georgia passed a law last summer that allows people with firearm licenses to bring concealed weapons onto public transportation, in state parks and in certain restaurants. The airport says it falls under the public gathering exception found in the state law.
Last week, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a federal judge who earlier had thrown out GeorgiaCarry's lawsuit. GeorgiaCarry didn't respond to requests for comment.
Newark Liberty
Newark Liberty has added new bars at Terminal C, including the Guinness Irish Pub, the Samuel Adams bar/restaurant, Vino Volo (a wine bar) and the Heineken Lounge.
ROUTE NEWS
American Eagle
Citing "difficult economic times" and "operational complexities," American Airlines said it will end its American Eagle service at Dallas Love Field on June 11. But the airline added that it has signed a 17-year lease at Love Field and will resume service when the airport completes its new terminal, scheduled to open in 2013.
American Airlines had battled Southwest Airlines and the City of Dallas for years to keep tight limits on service at Love Field. American said its actions were aimed at protecting its interests at nearby Dallas/Fort Worth International, though it eventually agreed to a settlement that gradually phases out the Love Field restrictions.
American returned to Love Field in 2006, flying large jets to four cities. But the airline kept paring service there as it struggled to fill planes, and its American Eagle regional jet service to Chicago O'Hare is its last remaining route at Love Field.
AirTran
AirTran has launched non-stop service between Baltimore/Washington International and Cancun, Mexico. The flights, which started last week, will operate on Saturdays and Sundays.
Every Monday, we report on the latest news in airports across the USA. See something noteworthy in your travels? E-mail your suggestions to ryu@usatoday.com.