More airports implement plans to reduce congestion

As airline passenger traffic continues to be on the rise, stifling congestion around our nation’s airports is becoming more prevalent. More airports are now implementing new strategies to help combat this problem. For example, as reported in earlier Travel New Lines, New York LaGuardia moved the pickup location for ridesharing, private car services and livery cabs to a parking lot in the Terminal B area during peak travel times, while San Diego International is working with Lyft to trial a taxi-stand style pickup solution to reduce the curbside confusion and delays for customers looking for their driver.

Airport officials at San Francisco International announced that beginning June 3 they will move all rideshare pickups to a consolidated area on the top level of the domestic hourly parking garage. While international terminal pickups will still be available at the current curbside location, moving domestic terminal rideshare traffic is expected to reduce congestion by nearly 45 percent. The airport is currently making “structural improvements to the top floor of the garage to improve the customers experience and support the larger volume of activity.”

Boston Logan airport officials also announced that they will create a new, dedicated location at the Central Garage for all ride-share pickups starting Oct 1. The airport, which already assesses an airport pickup fee of $3.25, will start charging the $3.25 fee for drop-offs as well, effective. Oct. 1.

In a different moved aimed at reducing airport congestion, Boston Logan is incentivizing travelers to use the Logan Express bus from the Back Bay Station by providing access to expedited security screening at the airport. Passengers who arrive at the airport via the Logan Express bus from the Back Bay Station can present their receipt to document checkers at the airport who will direct them to dedicated expedited screening lines. Return travelers can use the Logan Express bus back to the Back Bay Station free of charge.  

Completion of DFW project will allow American to add 100 daily flights

American Airlines has completed work on a 15-gate expansion project at Dallas/Fort Worth’s Terminal E. Airline officials say the new space will allow for approximately 100 new flights a day. Much of the expansion will be for regional routes out of the new space at Terminal E, but as American moves Eagle flights to Terminal E the carrier will also have more capacity elsewhere in the airport to launch new service to markets such as Munich and Dublin. American said it will introduce service to a total of 23 new destinations and expand frequencies to 84 existing markets this summer.