April’s Parking & Mobility magazine features the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s airports. One facility stepping up to meet customer needs in a huge way is Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, which earned a 5-star rating from Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization.
But what does it take to become a 5-star airport? Click here to discover five criteria for 5-star airport ratings. Will your facility be the next to earn distinction?
As travel slowly ramps back up after COVID-19, airports are donating their under-used parking lots and garages as vaccination sites for their communities:
Is your operation hosting vaccine clinics in a lot or garage? Please let us know.
Few parking sectors have been hit as hard by COVID-19 as airports–people simply aren’t flying. That said, when they do fly, driving to and parking at the airport is more attractive than using transit or transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber or Lyft, so as lockdowns ease, airport parking operations are seeing a bit of an uptick.
In the October issue of Parking & Mobility, we continue our Roadmap to Recovery series with a look at how airports have been affected and what their responses have been. From the initial hit to strategies to recover, including capital projects and keeping employees on the payroll, directors share what they’ve done, how it’s going, and what the future looks like.
Read the whole story here. Read or download and share the complete Roadmap to Recovery publication here–a compilation of IPMI’s COVID-19 resources, including sector-specific and general industry information.
By Shawn Conrad, CAE
It sounds surreal to say this but I just flew on a commercial flight for the first time in six months. With a family member recovering from surgery, I was needed on the West Coast and looked forward to doing something I did numerous times every year: fly. Like many, I hadn’t been on a plane since COVID-19 hit and life as we knew it changed. I finally had a reason to go to an airport and board a plane.
I have always enjoyed traveling and for the first time, wasn’t sure what a trip to the airport would entail. Had they closed the lot where I typically park? What would the process be going through TSA lines? Would people be socially distancing and wearing their masks in the airport and on the plane? Would I be able to explore the terminal (I love to walk the terminals, browse the shops, and watch people scurry to their gates)? To me, it’s all part of the travel experience, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
Bottom line: I was pleasantly surprised. While the experience was different from what I was used to, airport personnel had gone to great lengths to make their customers feel welcomed and safe. I especially appreciated the airline leaving the middle seat vacant during the flight. People kept their masks on and the pilots even came out to greet us as we de-boarded the plane.
Like parking and mobility, airports expect a slow recovery as the world works on vaccines to combat the virus. In the meantime, it is impressive how airports and airlines have adjusted their processes to lesson the anxiety we might have of flying–not a small feat. Kudos to all for their efforts!
And in case you were wondering, the experience of parking my car at the airport was flawless.
Shawn Conrad, CAE, is IPMI’s CEO.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020: 2:00 PM EST
Join IPMI for a free online shoptalk to discuss and collaborate about the effects of the COVID-19 virus and the industry’s response. Moderated by Dean Ahmad and David Wilson of Dallas Forth Worth International Airport, this hour-long discussion will provide insights, evolving best practices and ideas/solutions to help your organization cope with these challenges. We understand this is an extremely busy time and will record the online shoptalk and distribute to all members and colleagues. If you have a question or would like to share something that has worked for your organization in advance, please email Fernandez@parking-mobility.org.
Dean Ahmad, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW),Assistant Vice President. In his role, Mr. Ahmad oversees parking operations, ground transportation, landside construction projects and strategic planning efforts. Mr. Ahmad currently serves as the Immediate Past President for the Texas Parking and Transportation Association (TPTA). In addition, he is a Board member for the Greater Dallas Planning Council (GDPC). Prior to his career at the airport, Dean was a successful entrepreneur in the furniture and antique industry. Mr. Ahmad earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Baylor University and is currently pursuing his MBA from Columbia Southern University.
David Wilson, CAPP, is the Transportation Business Manager for DFW Airport. He earned his BBA from the University of North Texas. He has 38 years parking and transportation experience including 8 years as the Parking Revenue and Yield Management Manager. He was involved with the implementation of DFW’s AVI system and NTTA partnership and the Prepay booking system. Dave has presented to multiple parking and transportation groups including IPMI and served as an ACRP Topic Panel member.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020: 2:00 PM EST
Join IPMI for a free online shoptalk to discuss and collaborate about the effects of the COVID-19 virus and the industry’s response. Moderated by Dean Ahmad and David Wilson of Dallas Forth Worth International Airport, this hour-long discussion will provide insights, evolving best practices and ideas/solutions to help your organization cope with these challenges. We understand this is an extremely busy time and will record the online shoptalk and distribute to all members and colleagues. If you have a question or would like to share something that has worked for your organization in advance, please email Fernandez@parking-mobility.org.
Dean Ahmad, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW),Assistant Vice President. In his role, Mr. Ahmad oversees parking operations, ground transportation, landside construction projects and strategic planning efforts. Mr. Ahmad currently serves as the Immediate Past President for the Texas Parking and Transportation Association (TPTA). In addition, he is a Board member for the Greater Dallas Planning Council (GDPC). Prior to his career at the airport, Dean was a successful entrepreneur in the furniture and antique industry. Mr. Ahmad earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Baylor University and is currently pursuing his MBA from Columbia Southern University.
David Wilson, CAPP, is the Transportation Business Manager for DFW Airport. He earned his BBA from the University of North Texas. He has 38 years parking and transportation experience including 8 years as the Parking Revenue and Yield Management Manager. He was involved with the implementation of DFW’s AVI system and NTTA partnership and the Prepay booking system. Dave has presented to multiple parking and transportation groups including IPMI and served as an ACRP Topic Panel member.