Business Traveler, February 2015

Visit businesstravelerusa com 56 n February 2015 n Take Offs Landings five parallel runways capable of simultaneous operations London Heathrow T2 However aside from gawking at the numbers the burst of growth at Dubai International brings into stark relief a broader theme in global air travel a tectonic shift in how and by what route travelers reach their ultimate destinations The jet engine has transformed the world and not just the world of aviation but the worlds of commerce urbanization societal development and human interaction Destinations that were once days even weeks apart are now hours away More critically the hubs that connect the spokes have become nodes in a worldwide network as important to the global economy as the cities and regions they serve Nowhere on the planet is that global connection more evident than London Falling to the Number Two spot in international traffic may lose Heathrow some bragging rights but doesnt diminish the significance of nearly 73 million people passing through its doors That fact is not lost on either airport planners or the millions of passengers who populate LHRs new T2 When Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated London Airports first passenger terminal in December 1955 she declared Whatever form air travel may take in the future and we may be certain that striking changes lie ahead London Airport will I am sure continue to grow in importance as one of the world centers of air traffic Sixty years on these words have proved to be prescient both for the building and the airport long ago renamed Terminal 2 and Heathrow respectively Last year the 88 year old monarch officially opened T2 for a second time now rechristened the Queens Terminal The 25 billion 38 billion facility has been designed to take into account passenger moods and reactions to everyday elements such as natural light acoustics and comfort To this end lead architect Luis Vidal and AIRPORT REPORT n Air New Zealand Moves to Tom Bradley International Terminal Air New Zealand has move its LAX operations to the new Tom Bradley International terminal The terminal has more than 150000 square feet of retail and dining space and houses the new Star Alliance Lounge designed and managed by Air New Zealand The airline has also increased services on its North American routes and currently operates double daily services between Auckland and Los Angeles as well as a daily service between Auckland and London n AA Consolidates USAir flights at LAX in Terminal 6 AA and USAir continue their consolidation efforts at LAX by moving all operations for the former USAir to Terminal 6 US Airways ticketing and check in counters will be located on Level 2 and flights will operate out of four dedicated gates 60 61 62 and 63 American will continue to operate at Terminal 4 Customers traveling on American Airlines and US Airways should continue to check in for flights and conduct business with the airline operating their flight For details visit aa com n The Club at CVG Opens in the Cincinnati Airport The seventh airport lounge by ALD The Club at CVG has opened at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport The Club at CVG is located in Concourse A between Gates A8 and A10 Lounge access is available for 35 and welcome to all passengers regardless of carrier class of ticket or affinity membership The club additionally welcomes members of Priority Pass Priority Pass Select and Lounge Club Details day passes and more about this club and the six other clubs can be found on their website at theclubairportlounges com n Narita Set to Open LCC Terminal Work is finishing up on Terminal 3 at Tokyo Narita International Airport with plans to have the new low cost carrier LCC facility up and running by April 8 At a cost of 13 billion about 109 million the 700000 square foot facility is located north of Terminal 2 It consists of one main building and a satellite terminal for international and domestic flights respectively providing ten gates in total The airport authority predicts that the new terminal will handle up to 10000 takeoffs and landings annually and up to 75 million travellers n American Express Opens Lounges to Canadian Cardmembers American Express has announced that The Centurion Lounge is now available to Canadian Cardmembers The lounge currently has locations in Toronto Las Vegas Dallas Ft Worth and New Yorks La Guardia airports The lounges include amenities such as seasonal locally inspired food cocktails and wine high speed WiFi and private noise buffering work nooks Select locations include complimentary spa treatments shower suites conference rooms and family rooms Visit thecenturionlounge com to learn more