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You’ve never traveled with us like this before – back 85 years.
It’s our anniversary. And we’d love it if you’d join us in celebrating 85 years of CLE firsts.
It all began on July 1st, when our first plane took off, and we earned the distinction of being the country’s first municipally-owned airport. This led to a whole string of other firsts: such as the first airport to be serviced by a commercial carrier, the first airfield with a lighting system, the first airport to obtain an air traffic control tower, and the first airport with a direct rail link to the heart of the city.
Today, the firsts continue as we forge ahead as a leader in aviation. We remain the only commercial airport in the United States connected to a major NASA facility. And we are among one of the first airports to be equipped with an advanced de-icing reclamation system – protecting the environment and dramatically accelerating ground clearance time.
What’s more, capital projects planned in the areas of air traffic control, taxiway routing, and runway safety will keep us among the top airports in the world. Plus, improvements such as the AIRMALL, renovated restrooms, valet parking, and the Terrazzo Floor Project will only make air travel experience better for everyone – because putting our travelers first is also a priority.
It’s a bit overwhelming to realize that CLE has been a destination for billions of people, and that we’ve welcomed world leaders, launched businesses, and sent loved ones abroad. But it’s what we love to do. And in 2010, we celebrate it all.
Is there a turnaround on the horizon for corporate travel?
The answer is (we’re happy to say) yes. In fact, some of the nation’s largest airlines including American, Continental, Delta, and United are reporting modest gains in both premium and business tickets.
So, what has led to the much-needed influx of business from business travelers? Well, mainly a renewed influx of cash into the previously slashed travel budgets of major corporations. Last year, travel budgets were cut by as much as 30%, which left companies to downgrade from first-class to coach, and in some cases, to stop traveling all together. But now, corporations are returning to their original seats and traveling more, with most carriers seeing the highest increases coming from international routes. More specifically, American has seen its international bookings increase by 3%.
All of this positive news is also buoyed by Continental reporting that its consolidated load factor (how full their planes were in fourth quarter 2009) was at 82 percent, which is 3.3 points higher than fourth quarter 2008. Also, the airline expects its capacity for both mainline and regional jets to grow by 1 to 2% this year. And many of the airlines believe international routes will realize even greater increases in the near future, projecting 4 to 5% growth.
CLE Airport Director Ricky Smith is encouraged by the signs. “The good news is that there are positive numbers being posted by the airlines in terms of corporate travel,” said Smith. “It may be too early to predict exactly how many more business travelers will take to the skies in 2010, but we should have a much clearer picture by the end of the first quarter if the trend continues.”
Continental Adds Non-stops to Green Bay and Norfolk
In May, Continental will begin offering non-stop service to Green Bay, Wisconsin and Norfolk, Virginia. The airline will offer three daily departure/arrivals to Green Bay and four daily departures/arrivals to Norfolk.
Congratulations to the seven who will soon be turning our airport into an art-port.
What better way to represent our city’s vibrant culture than to have artists’ interpretations of it on permanent display right in the flooring of our airport concourses? Back in July, a call for entries went out to all artists in the area to submit an original work of art that represents the theme: Cleveland – A Green City on a Blue Lake (past, present, and future). After receiving more than 25 truly wonderful submissions, seven artists were selected. CLE is proud to announce the following winners whose works will soon be going places:
Betsey Friedman – Cleveland Blocks
Mark Rook – Green Utopia
Maria Cuadra, Eaon March, Chae Simpson – A Green City on a Blue Lake
Claire Sullivan – Hooked on Cleveland
Sean Michael – Starry Night in Cleveland
Tom Koskey – Early Morning Steelyard Blues
Eva Kwong – Cleveland: The wind Turbine City
Improving your flight by breaking new ground
At CLE, we’re embarking on two new, exciting projects – the addition of a new taxiway and its connectors as well as a new aircraft hold apron. Both projects will allow for easier access to the de-icing area while also easing congestion. For passengers, that means enhanced overall safety and less waiting on the tarmac. It also means about 200 jobs for northeast Ohioans - keeping CLE on the path to stimulating the economy and creating jobs for our residents.
Director's Message
I would like to shed some light on the partial blackout at CLE on January 10th. While much was reported on this unfortunate event, no media outlet covered the complete story — a story which truly began in July of 2008. This is when a vulnerability assessment was conducted jointly by the airport and the Department of Homeland Security revealed an issue with the electrical feeds from First Energy.
The airport’s electricity comes from two separate electrical feeds (one north of the airport and the other south). If a power failure occurred on either line, sections of the airport would be without power. To eliminate the potential weakness identified in the assessment study, a $2.2 million funding request was made to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The money was to be used for burying the lines owned by First Energy.
As a result of the power outage, we now have short-term and long-term plans in place to keep CLE operating in the event of another power disruption.
In the short-term, we will work with our airline and tenant partners to assess their power needs and then execute a plan to redistribute power throughout the airport using existing backup generators. Currently, the airport has 11 generators, two of which were added in 2009 at a cost of nearly $1,000,000. Increasing the airport’s backup capacity by 30%, these generators supplied power to sections of the airport during the recent power failure. This project will be complete by June of 2010.
Our long-term plan is to create a link between the two existing power feeds. This new link would automatically switch circuits in the airport to the line with power in the event the other line fails, thus preventing disruption. This long-range project is scheduled to be completed during 2011 at an estimated cost of $4.5 million, and we have already met with officials at First Energy to discuss new strategies for preventing a power outage.
With plans for the electrical infrastructure upgrades in place, we are now working on repairing the trust with travelers and the community. My focus since coming to Cleveland has not changed: to provide customers with a world-class experience. Together, with the Jackson Administration, the airport is transforming to make this a reality. And that is the story that may have been missed.
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