First Airspace Lounge Opens at BWI Airport
Airspace Lounge, a new-generation airport lounge network available to customers flying any airline, opened its first location on Saturday, May 7, at its BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport headquarters site. Consumer and business American Express Platinum Card members enjoy complimentary access to its offerings.
The new lounge is located on Concourse D, which currently serves AirTran, Cape Air, Continental, United and USAirways. Card members and their guests will have access to Airspace’s complete product offering of complimentary food and beverages, including breakfast items in the morning, sandwiches during the afternoon and evening, with snacks, coffee, tea and soft drinks.
In addition, card members can take advantage of complimentary wireless Internet, power outlets at every seat, the use of MacBooks and Windows PCs, comfortable seating, workspace areas and in-lounge restrooms. A full-service bar is also available for an extra fee.
For entry, card members flying on any airline will simply present the Airspace Lounge host with their Platinum Card. The presentation of airline tickets is not required for admission, and card members may bring up to two traveling companions for no additional charge.
“At American Express, we know our Platinum Card members are passionate about travel, and we are focused on providing them value, service and access for every step of the journey — from booking to boarding and beyond,” said Steve Selwood, vice president, Premium Products and Experiences for American Express. “With the addition of access to this new Airspace Lounge, we are continuing to enhance the value of the Platinum Card as a passport to a premium travel experience.”
Airspace Lounge is the first comprehensive airport lounge network and developer in the United States with facilities open to all airline passengers. For more information, visit www.airspacelounge.com, www.facebook.com/AirspaceLounge and Twitter@anthonytangorra.
New March Passenger Record for BWI Marshall
An all-time March record of 1,882,404 passengers traveled through BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport that month.
That figure represented an increase of 3.3% from March 2010. During the previous 12 months from that point, total passenger traffic at BWI Marshall had increased 6%, to 22,258,652 — a new record for any 12-month period at the airport.
By March, BWI Marshall had set monthly passenger records in 10 of the past 11 months. Passenger traffic at the airport had grown for 13 consecutive months, as well as for 21 of the past 22 months.
In addition, global passenger traffic increased by 2% that month, according to Airports Council International.
Southwest Airlines, the largest airline at BWI Marshall, served 1,085,356 passengers in March, an 11.5% increase from March 2010. That month, the carrier began service to two new destinations from BWI Marshall, Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C. It will begin service between the airport and Newark this month.
Southwest currently offers 189 daily departures from BWI Marshall Airport, a record for the airline. The airline will offer 195 daily departures during the peak summer months of 2011.
Other airlines that posted significant percentage increases at BWI Marshall for March 2011 included American Airlines, British Airways, USAirways and Cape Air. Cargo shipments also grew in March, to 20,932,530 pounds, an increase of 6.1%.
“The record levels of passenger traffic that we saw last year has continued in the early part of 2011,” said Paul Wiedefeld, executive director of BWI Marshall Airport. “We expect a busy summer and we thank our customers for flying BWI Marshall Airport.”
BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Receives Authorization as Gateway to Cuba
BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport has received approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to handle passenger charter air service to and from Cuba.
“We are grateful that the federal government has approved the application for direct charter service between BWI Marshall Airport and Cuba,” said Paul Wiedefeld, executive director of BWI Marshall. “The authorization can produce expanded access to Cuba for Maryland and the entire National Capital region. This service has the potential to benefit many institutions and organizations throughout our region.”
The airport joins a select list of U.S. airports to offer service to Cuba. Previously, only airports in Miami, New York and Los Angeles were authorized for Cuba service; but recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has opened Cuba service to several new markets, including BWI Marshall.
New federal regulations expand religious, academic, journalistic and cultural travel between the United States and Cuba. Several additional regulatory and procedural steps need to be completed before the charter service between BWI Marshall and Cuba may commence.
Fort Meade Wins Quality of Life Award
Fort Meade has won an award sponsored by the secretary of the Army that recognizes outstanding community partnerships.
The Quality of Life Partnership Award recognizes new or existing partnerships that have improved soldier or family quality of life programs. Fort Meade’s recognition resulted from the partnership formed with the United Services Organization and the Fort Meade Alliance.
The partnership responded to a need to furnish and outfit the Soldier Family Assistance Center, which provides support to 200 Warrior Transition Unit soldiers and their families. In less than 12 months, the USO and FMA raised more than $100,000 which was gifted to the installation.
The funds then were used to equip classrooms, a modern kitchen, a state-of-the-art computer lab and to purchase furniture specifically designed for people who have trouble standing. In addition, the gift financed a playroom with toys, age-specific books, video games and board games for the family members of warrior transition soldiers. The effort created a relaxed atmosphere designed to enhance the services necessary to help Warrior Transition soldiers recover and return to duty or transition to civilian careers.
“It was a very rewarding experience in that we partnered with a group of extremely giving, caring and supportive professionals whose main emphasis is to take care of our wounded warriors,” said Kathy Ferran, chief, Fort Meade Army Community Service. “This was truly a valuable experience for me to see both government and business work together to ensure our most deserving have the resources they need to facilitate their healing process.”
The secretary of the Army’s Quality of Life Awards is in its third year. Fort Meade is one of nine Army installations to be recognized.
