RDUUPDATE J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
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RDUUPDATE
From the Chairman Happy New Year! Following a year of great celebration, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) remains focused on our number one priority — our customers. As we move into the New Year, RDU welcomes additional services to enhance the passenger travel experience. Throughout the terminals, RDU is going hi-tech. Computer stations for passengers who want to check their email or surf the Internet while waiting for their flights were recently installed throughout the terminals. Airlines continue to add electronic ticketing kiosks where passengers can easily check in for their flights and print their boarding passes. And of course, there is Exit Express — RDU’s new, automated way to pay for parking that is as easy as one, two, three! The upcoming addition of a USO (United Service Organizations) Center at RDU is another way the airport is
reaching out to our community. This new facility, located in Terminal A, will provide military personnel with a place to relax while they wait for their flight. And for passengers looking for a little relaxation while at RDU, The Shops of RDU Landing welcomes Traveling Grace Massage & Spa. Located in Terminal A, this latest addition offers travelers a quiet retreat amid the hustle and bustle of the airport.
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RDU Goes Hi-Tech . . . . . . .2/3 The Year in Review . . . . . . . .4 USO Brings a Touch of Home to RDU . . . . . . . . . .5 Right on the Way! . . . . . . . . .6
With many projects ahead of us this year, RDU remains focused on the future. And while we plan for the next phase of development, we continue to ask the question, “How do we better serve our customers?” See you at the airport!
RDUUPDATE David T. Clancy, Chairman Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
John C. Brantley Airport Director Karen T. Dunton Communications Specialist, Editor Mindy Hamlin Communications Manager RDU Update is published every other month by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority for its corporate and community partners and air travelers. Suggestions and comments should be sent to: Karen T. Dunton, Editor Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority P.O. Box 80001 RDU Airport, North Carolina 27623 USA Phone: (919) 840-2100 Fax: (919) 840-0175 Email: karen.dunton@rdu.com Triangle Icon and General Aviation photos in this issue by Michael Zirkle
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Guests at the general aviation terminal dedication toured the airport’s latest addition.
The Triangle Icon welcomes travelers to RDU and the region.
Community Joins RDU in Celebrating Centennial of Flight Dedication of General Aviation Terminal Focuses RDU on the Future On December 17, 2003, RDU and members of the Triangle community celebrated the centennial of flight with the illumination of the Triangle Icon. The Icon, located adjacent to the airport’s parking garages, is a sculpture that serves as a symbol for the Raleigh-Durham region. During the ceremony, Airport Director John Brantley honored the Wright Brothers’ achievements and the advancements made in aviation since their first flight. RDU Airport Authority Chairman Tim Clancy spoke about RDU’s history and the positive impact the airport has had on our region. Also speaking at the ceremony was architect and Icon artist Wellington Reiter of Urban Instruments, Inc. of Boston. Mr. Reiter introduced the Icon to attendees, discussing each component and its symbolism. The 50foot tower anchors the entire ensemble and points skyward, symbolizing man’s aspiration to fly. The pair of intersecting wing-like supports represent the Wright Brothers and the idea of flight. And, the 120-foot elliptical ring represents the length of the Wright Brothers’ first flight and the circuitous nature of air travel involving time, movement and return.
The Icon is a joint project of the Cities of Durham and Raleigh, the Counties of Durham and Wake, and the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. A permanent addition to the airport, the Icon is a symbol of flight that will inspire future generations to carry on the dream begun by Orville and Wilbur Wright 100 years ago. Following the Icon illumination, guests and friends of the airport attended a reception at RDU’s new general aviation terminal. During the reception, Brantley formally dedicated the building to the memory of Bruce E. Matthews, the first permanent employee of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation and a leader in developing the North Carolina public airport system. The reception showcased the building’s many features including office space, a restaurant and an observation area overlooking one of the airport’s runways. The building is scheduled to open in early spring.
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RDUUPDATE
RDU Goes Hi-Tech Computers. Cell phones. The Internet. Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we live, work, play and travel. Convenience has become a necessity in the travel industry and hi-tech advancements are helping to make hassle-free travel a reality. From automated ticketing kiosks to wireless Internet access, airports are using technology to better serve you from arrival to departure.
Touch Screen to Start In 2003, the self-service concept was ushered in at airports across the country. With 90% of passengers now traveling on electronic tickets, airlines further utilized technology by converting some ticket counters into ticketing kiosks, providing a convenient and easy way to obtain boarding passes, change seating assignments and, at some airlines, check baggage, all with the touch of a screen. At RDU, most airlines have added ticketing kiosks. These computers perform several
functions in less time, allowing more efficient travel. And with ticketing agents on hand to assist you, airlines are ensuring their customers receive personal attention when needed.
How Does It Work? To use a ticketing kiosk, you simply insert a major credit card to identify yourself to the machine — no charges are made to the credit card account — and then follow a series of touch screens to check in, receive a boarding pass, confirm a frequent flier number, and if necessary, select a seat. Transactions average between 30 seconds and a minute.
Email Made Easy
Passengers can enjoy the convenience of ticketing kiosks in both terminals at RDU.
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Using Exit Express pay is as easy as one, two,
Once you have checked in and proceed through the security checkpoint, a variety of hi-tech services are available while you wait for your flight. Need to check your email? Take advantage of a new service at RDU, Pay Email. Located on the concourse level of Terminals A and C, Pay Email allows you to access email and surf the Internet while at the airport. Pay Email stations are located at gates 10, 22 and 25
y stations three.
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Fly Right Through The following airlines operate ticketing kiosks for RDU passengers who want to take advantage of the latest technology.
Airlines American/American Eagle AirTran Continental Delta Northwest Southwest US Airways Pay Email stations provide travelers with access to email and the Internet while at RDU.
# of Ticketing Kiosks 6 4 12 10 2 4 6
in Terminal A and gate 15 in Terminal C. These stations replace pay phone locations no longer used by passengers due to an increase in cell phone usage. Each station charges a fee of $3 for the first 10-minute increment and $.30 for each additional minute thereafter. The machines accept payment via all major credit cards.
Go Wireless For those traveling with a laptop computer or cell phone, service in the terminals will get an upgrade this fall as RDU works with AT&T Wireless to install a new wireless communications system throughout RDU’s “WiFi” system will provide increased access the airport. With the new “WiFi” to computer services while at the airport. system, all customers using a major cellular provider will be able to make and receive calls throughout the terminals. In addition, passengers using laptop computers will be able to connect to the Internet without plugging in to a wall outlet. To use the wireless computer system at RDU, you can pay $9.95 for a one-day access pass, or, for those with service provided by AT&T Wireless and their roaming partners, access to the system is included in your monthly service agreement.
The New Way to Pay To continue the convenient travel experience, RDU recently unveiled Exit Express, an automated payment program used to pay for parking quickly and easily. The program uses pay station machines, located along pedestrian walkways between the terminals and the parking garages, to collect parking fees. This method lets you exit the parking area faster while providing RDU with an advanced revenue-control system. With approximately 50% of RDU visitors already using this new technology, the airport expects the usage to increase steadily during the upcoming months.
With advancements in technology being made every day, RDU remains dedicated to providing you with a convenient travel experience. And with hundreds of innovations on the horizon, the sky is the limit at RDU!
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RDUUPDATE Editorial
The Year in Review — Celebration and Construction Focus RDU on the Future
John Brantley RDU Airport Director The year 2003 was a memorable one at RDU. On May 1, RDU celebrated its 60th year in operation by inviting former Airport Director Henry Boyd and several past and present board members to commemorate the occasion during a ceremony in Terminal A. The celebration continued in December as RDU joined the aviation industry and the world in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. As part of the celebration, an original work of art, known as the Triangle Icon, was illuminated at RDU to serve as a symbol for the region. The centennial celebration continued with the dedication of the airport’s new general aviation terminal to the memory of Bruce Matthews, the NCDOT Division of Aviation’s long-time manager of airport development who passed away on March 17, 2000.
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Two men who were instrumental in building RDU departed us during 2003. Jimmy Goodwin, Eastern Airlines’ station manager for 31 years following RDU’s opening, passed away on June 10. Then on November 23, Henry Boyd, the airport’s manager and director for 18 years beginning in 1960, joined Mr. Goodwin. They were pioneers during a time when RDU grew from infancy into a bustling airport. On November 19, RDU’s newest parking garage, a seven level, 6,166space facility located between Terminals A and C opened to customers. At the same time, Exit Express, the airport’s new automated parking system serving the 11,000 spaces located between the terminals, was placed into operation. Users of Exit Express are able to pay their parking fee before returning to their vehicles. This allows customers to avoid lines at the exit plaza and quickly and conveniently be on their way. This past year, RDU also completed a number of large construction projects. In addition to the new parking garage, entry and exit plazas and access roadways, the airport also completed work on improvements to the I-40/Aviation Parkway interchange, construction of another new cargo building housing the warehouse and commissary facilities for all food/beverage and retail concessionaires, construction of a new general aviation terminal and three large aircraft hangars, and expansion of another cargo building. At the year’s end, construction of two additional aircraft hangars, a fourth taxiway connecting the east and west sides of the airfield, a major storm drainage system under the longest runway, and the final phase of redevelopment of
the airport’s general aviation area were underway and expected to be completed during the first half of 2004. With so much positive growth occurring at RDU, it was unfortunate to see airlines and the cargo industry experiencing negative growth relative to the preceding year. With respect to air travel, the decline was due to the depressed state of the economy and a 12% loss in available seats as airlines shifted more and more flights from larger aircraft to their regional carrier affiliates operating 37–50 passenger jets. Air cargo shipping also declined, largely due to a continued transition to low cost trucking and to a reduction in shipping by certain industries, especially telecommunications. Fortunately, the final quarter of 2003 saw a return to positive growth in travel, a trend that is expected to continue into 2004 as the economy strengthens. RDU looks forward to 2004 with great anticipation and great expectation. Air travel during the holidays was very strong and remained so over a longer period of time than in previous years. Several carriers plan flight additions, which were few in number during 2003, and the prospect of several new carriers beginning service at RDU is good. Use of RDU’s parking facilities, car rental services and terminal concessions continues to grow. And in the fall, we will begin the initial work on replacing Terminal C with a new facility designed to take full advantage of available aircraft gates and to provide flexibility in accommodating whatever changes the future may bring. We believe 2004 is going to be a very good year for RDU and for the region we serve.
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USO Brings a Touch of Home to RDU Beginning this summer, military personnel traveling through RDU will enjoy a home away from home. The Airport Authority recently partnered with the United Services Organizations of North Carolina to open a USO Center at RDU. “The center will serve as a friendly place in an unfamiliar environment,” says Judy Pitchford, executive director for the USO of North Carolina. “It is a place where active duty and reserve personnel, their families and retired military personnel can relax and obtain assistance in any situation.”
Military personnel can relax in a USO Center and call home to talk with friends and family.
RDU is the closest international airport to North Carolina’s major military locations.Thousands of men and women of the Armed Forces and their families travel through the airport every year and the USO Center will be a welcome addition to their travel experience. The 1,500 squarefoot center, located in Terminal A, will include food and beverage service, computer stations, a relaxation lounge, luggage storage, a family
area, emergency assistance and transportation to military locations across the state. “Most travelers have a sense of where they are going, how they are going to get there and who will be waiting for them,” says Pitchford. “In the case of young military personnel, they are given orders, an airline ticket and sent on their way. The USO Center is a place where they can go for information, food and a welcoming smile.” Congress chartered the USO in 1941 as a charitable organization with the mission of providing morale, welfare and recreational services to uniformed military personnel. Today, there are 122 centers around the world serving more than 5 million people every year. The USO International Corp of Volunteers lends a helping hand in providing services at individual centers. With more than 12,000 members, this group contributes an estimated 450,000 hours of service annually. The USO Center at RDU, scheduled to open on July 4, has already generated excitement at local military bases and around the Triangle. “The Raleigh-Durham community is very supportive of the military in our state,” says Pitchford. “We look forward to working with the airport and the community in providing our military with a touch of home at RDU.” For more information about the USO Center at RDU, contact Judy Pitchford at 910-455-3411 or visit www.uso.org/jacksonvillenc.
A variety of activities can be found in USO Centers, including piano sing-a-longs.
Larger USO Centers provide cafeteria service to military personnel.
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Right on the Way! The Shops of RDU Landing recently celebrated the opening of Traveling Grace Massage and Spa located in Terminal A. Passengers can enjoy chair massages and reflexology along with an assortment of aromatherapy soaps, oils and bath products. Traveling Grace provides a relaxing environment for everyone‌right on the way.
A new name and new look are just the ticket for one RDU Landing shop! 2nd ed. Book Sellers, formerly known as The Book Cellar, has changed its name to coincide with a new look including hardwood floors, literary artwork and additional space for a diverse inventory of books. The name of the shop may have changed but the selection of books still includes something for everyone.
V i s i t R D U ’s W e b s i t e a t w w w. r d u . c o m PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
PAID Communications Department Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority P.O. Box 80001 RDU Airport, NC 27623 www.rdu.com (919) 840-2100 / (919) 840-0175 fax
Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Members David T. Clancy, Chairman, City of Raleigh W. Stephens Toler, Vice Chairman, Durham County Robert D. Teer, Jr., Treasurer, City of Durham Stephen K. Zaytoun, Secretary, Wake County Kenneth D. Gibbs, Sr., City of Durham Craigie D. Sanders, Durham County Michael Weeks, Wake County Robert W. Winston, City of Raleigh
Raleigh, N.C. Permit No. 1947