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Stress during the holidays? Let’s rise above it.
(Preferably 32,000 feet above it.)
It’s that time again. The kids are out of school. The shopping needs to be done. The cookies need to be baked. Visiting loved ones is a first order of business. While all of it is joyful, it can also be frenzied and exhausting. Well, at CLE, we are doing our best to give you the gift of relaxation this holiday.
First of all, we’re offering half-off your parking — both short-term and long-term garage parking with a coupon only. We’ve also added free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. Which means last minute work or last minute online gift buying gets done, all while you wait for your flight. What’s more, if you happen to be on the receiving end of the holiday visitors— picking them up from the airport is stress-free too. Why? Because we now have a cell phone waiting lot— an area where you can sit and relax in your car until you receive a call or text message that your guest has arrived and is ready for pick-up. No more circling the airport – and if that doesn’t reduce your stress, then what will? Well, we’ll tell you – free massages. That’s right. We gave them, okay not us exactly, but massage therapists from the Massotherapy Clinic of Cuyahoga Community College, generously donated their time to our Thanksgiving travelers, right here in Concourse C.
 Of course, there are some stresses that we can’t control (sorry) — so here are some tips and tricks for holiday air travel to keep you in the spirit, while getting ahead of the hustle and bustle.
When we say, "fly safe," we mean it (six times over to be exact).
 For a sixth time (go ahead, count ’em), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded CLE an "Exceptional" rating for safety — the very highest status an airport can receive.
The basis for the FAA’s rating is an annual certification inspection. The way it works is over a four day period, the FAA inspectors evaluate the airport’s airfields, runways, and taxiways (including signage, markings, and lighting); the readiness and responsiveness of the airport’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) team, along with how well the airport maintains its records. In all of these areas, we passed with flying colors.
Director Ricky Smith is especially proud of the coordinated safety efforts at Hopkins. "You don’t achieve that track record for exceptional safety without a concerted effort by individuals in multiple departments," explains Smith. "Cleveland is fortunate to have an outstanding team of aviation experts who make safety their business."
CLE’s ARFF unit is a particular source of pride. It’s the only airport rescue unit in the country staffed entirely by trained paramedics. Because of this, aircraft in the Midwest air space with passengers needing medical assistance are often diverted to CLE for treatment.
In addition to the annual FAA inspections, CLE also conducts full-scale disaster drills every three years. The most recent was held in September with police, fire, rescue, and emergency personnel from 45 agencies in the region responding to the mock disaster quickly and efficiently.
And that’s not all—upgrades are planned to help ensure that CLE remains tops in safety. This includes the construction of a new 300-foot high control tower and, also, taxiway improvements. So now you know that when you take to our runway, you’re taking the safest way.
Now offering free round-trip tickets to Cyberspace.
CLE is happy to announce the addition of free Wi-Fi service—a service that sets us apart from most other airports. You see, many large airports continue to charge for Internet access because it’s a revenue generator. However, Airport Director Rick Smith believes the benefits of free Wi-Fi to travelers outweigh the dollars gained. "It’s about providing a total customer service experience," explained Smith. "Online and off, we want to improve the travel experience."
So, launched just in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel period, our passengers are now enjoying unrestricted, fast, reliable, and easy-to-use Internet throughout the airport. Wi-Fi coverage includes the ticketing and baggage areas, the AIRMALL, and all four concourses.
To our passengers: Happy Holidays and Happy Wi-Fi-ing.
No more circling the airport. Now picking up your loved ones is a direct flight.
Introducing our Cell Phone Lot — a designated waiting area where you can sit and relax in your car until you receive a call or text that your client/relative/friend (or whoever is coming to visit) has retrieved their bags and is ready for pick-up.
The lot is located south of the terminal on Jackson Road behind Concourse D. Parking in any of the 50 spaces is free and is not time limited, however, you must remain near your vehicle. The lot is on track to be open by the end of December.
And remember, along with the cell phone lot, on-site parking alternatives include economy, covered short-term, covered long-term, and valet parking. So, you’re never short on options — in total, there are more than 7,000 parking spaces at CLE (not that we’re counting—okay, we are.)
Who needs Black Friday? We’re offering half-off parking Monday - Sunday.
Holiday savings can be found at CLE (somewhere between a Ford Taurus Station Wagon and VW Beetle) thanks to a special offer of half-off short-term and long-term on-site parking. The price adjustments bring the hourly and daily garage rate down to $7 a day, and the long-term garage rate to just $5 a day. And, with both garages covered and connected to the terminal, you can avoid battling the weather and shuttle traffic before flying away. But don’t forget, you need to have the coupon to get this outrageous discount. Click here for the coupon.
Director's Message
December on the Lakefront can be a cold place. But when it comes to redevelopment at Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL), conditions are much more hospitable. In fact, they’re heating up. The project at the center of this warming trend, design of the new MCPC headquarters building on the old Aviation High School site, will begin this month. MCPc is the 4th fastest growing technology provider in the nation . The company is quickly becoming a major force in the Information Technology industry, and is among a short list of technology firms that are transforming the face of the Northeast Ohio economy. When the headquarters opens in 2011, it will house approximately 250 employees in a 100,000 square foot facility. This project highlights the type of private/public investment in mixed-use development envisioned as part of the airport’s redevelopment. Expected soon is the FAA’s approval of BKL’s master plan. The changes proposed in the master plan will enhance safety and improve flight operations. In addition, the master plan calls for development of additional hangar space as well as a new airport executive terminal building. This will ensure the airport is able to sustain future commercial aviation demand, which is being driven by Cleveland’s growing medical industry in transporting patients, medical specialists, and life-saving organ donations. In the coming months, the Airport System will launch a new marketing campaign to highlight the existing service benefits of BKL and plans for future redevelopment and expansion.
Yes. Progress is being made in revitalizing the Lakefront even in the cold days of December. And it’s not development or BKL, but instead development plus BKL that will make this critical area hot for business, recreation, and travel. So, please stay tuned in as we position BKL to be a model for aviation and mixed-use development – combined!
Click here for Cleveland City News
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