America's worst airports

[traderjake]

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/america-s-worst-airports.html

Philadelphia’s airport is singled out for a lousy design and lack of cleanliness (20th), surly staff (20th), and long check-in and security lines (20th). The only thing worse is waiting for your bags, ranked 21st in efficiency (make that inefficiency). That its location came in at 13th is not much consolation.

 

[ChockJockey]

What does PHL need that it isn't getting? Will the costs of improving the airport, including possibly the installation of inground fueling, be worth maintaining PHL's hub status?

 

[HPearlyretiree]

What does PHL need that it isn't getting? Will the costs of improving the airport, including possibly the installation of inground fueling, be worth maintaining PHL's hub status?

It needs people working there that aren't whiny entitlement victims.

 

[EastCheats]

It needs people working there that aren't whiny entitlement victims.

Right on...Hard to miss 4 out of the top 5 were NY, NJ and PA. Entitlement seems to be prevailing atttitude and it results in inefficiency.

 

[Hope777]

Interesting that they are all Hub airports.

 

[Harry Callahan]

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/america-s-worst-airports.html

Philadelphia’s airport is singled out for a lousy design and lack of cleanliness (20th), surly staff (20th), and long check-in and security lines (20th). The only thing worse is waiting for your bags, ranked 21st in efficiency (make that inefficiency). That its location came in at 13th is not much consolation.

And Charlotte ranked #1 in the baggage dept,

Harry

 

[wings396]

What does PHL need that it isn't getting? Will the costs of improving the airport, including possibly the installation of inground fueling, be worth maintaining PHL's hub status?

Like many other metropolitan airports, PHL is land restricted. The airport has been added on to, and patched up over the years in order to keep up with expansion. IF there were enough space available, the best solution would be to build an entirely new airport with an updated field layout.
Places such as ATL, PIT, DFW, and DEN just to name a few had the option to do so. Some of these airports moved to an entirely new location, which isn't really an option for PHL as well as most of the NYC area airports.

 

[700UW]

CLT ranked #2 overall best airport.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Right on...Hard to miss 4 out of the top 5 were NY, NJ and PA. Entitlement seems to be prevailing attitude and it results in inefficiency.

I do so hate to tell you that as far as PHL goes and I have been on the ramp there. Somewhere around 70% of the cause regarding bags has to do with the airport infrastructure. From the Customer View the airport looks quite nice for an airport its age. However, if you go "behind the curtain" it's like jumping from the balcony at the Ritz-Carlton into an open sewer.

Take 6% of each, Airline Management, Airports Authority Cronyism/Nepotism, Employee Attitude, Working Conditions and the ever popular sense of entitlement and you have the remaining 30%

The City has tried to change the airport for the better, but truth is NO ONE wants to pony up up the dough, government or airlines.

 

[EastCheats]

I do so hate to tell you that as far as PHL goes and I have been on the ramp there. Somewhere around 70% of the cause regarding bags has to do with the airport infrastructure. From the Customer View the airport looks quite nice for an airport its age. However, if you go "behind the curtain" it's like jumping from the balcony at the Ritz-Carlton into an open sewer.

Take 6% of each, Airline Management, Airports Authority Cronyism/Nepotism, Employee Attitude, Working Conditions and the ever popular sense of entitlement and you have the remaining 30%

The City has tried to change the airport for the better, but truth is NO ONE wants to pony up up the dough, government or airlines.

I have no argument with you on the points you made. For the most part I've had no problems att those hubs and most do a fine job. There are a few however that make the whole operation look bad. That's pretty much it.

 

[ChockJockey]

Here's a run down of what's being done to improve PHL from the airport's wikipedia article:

Runway expansion

In an effort to alleviate existing and forecast delays, the City of Philadelphia will complete major improvements to increase airfield capacity at PHL. The Capacity Enhancement Program is estimated to cost over $5 billion and take 13 years largely due to the slow process of moving residents out of some 72 homes before major groundbreaking gets underway. The Runway 17-35 Extension Project will provide a short-term delay reduction. The major components of the entire project include:

• Extension of Runway 17-35;
• Extension of parallel Taxiways D and E;
• Construction of a High Speed Taxiway for Runway 35 landings exiting to Taxiway E;
• Construction of an Aircraft Holding Apron at Runway 35 end;
• Relocation of Airside Perimeter Service Roads at Runway 17 and Runway 35 ends;
• Installation of High Intensity Runway Lighting (HIRL) and Medium Intensity Taxiway Lighting (MITL);
• Modifications to airfield signs;
• Substantial relocation/modification of navigational aids (NAVAIDS):
• Demolition of existing Taxiways D2 and E2;
• Modifications to existing Economy Parking Lot;
• Re-designation of existing State Route (SR) 291 north of Airport;
• Modifications to Bartram Avenue from the SR 291 intersection to Island Ave., SR 291 and I-95 ramps;
• Demolition of SR 291 at Runway 17 extension work area;
• Construction of Landside Service Road adjacent to I-95 right-of-way limit;
• Associated drainage, grading and utility relocations/modifications.

The first phase (IG), which allowed for the redesignation of Route 291, is complete. The remaining phases I, II and III are in progress.

U.S. Airways, the airport's largest tenant, warned the Federal government in a February 2012 10-K report that this expansion was unnecessary and the increased cost to the airlines may cause it to consolidate its operations at PHL into CLT and DCA, similar to its draw down at PIT.

What is the rationale for US opposing this expansion? Simply that it will increase operating costs?

Current airport improvement activity

Current development at the airport includes a new multi-level building which will connect Terminals D and E, a 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) addition to the Terminal E concourse, a 9,000 sq ft (840 m2) connector building between Baggage Claims D and E, renovations to interior areas of the two terminals and the adjacent heating and cooling facility.

Phases 1A and 1B involved a new multi-level building connecting Terminals D and E. The first level houses a new baggage make-up area and will replaces the existing areas in each terminal. This area also contains an Explosive Detection System (EDS), to be operated by the TSA as part of an in-line baggage screening system. Level two houses a 14-lane passenger security screening area serving both terminals, and the third level houses Division of Aviation offices and with space for an airline club. The Phase 1A entailed site work, constructing building foundations, utility relocation and structural steel placement for the connector building. Work on Phase IB commenced in July 2007 with the completed building opening in February 2010.

Is this building actually completed then, and has it made any difference?

Modifications within existing D and E buildings included 23 additional ticket counter positions with expanded areas for queuing and public circulation, new concessions and other tenant spaces. The Terminal E Concourse was expanded with the construction of a 2-level addition at the end of the concourse. Airline Operations space are at ground level while the second level provides hold rooms, passenger amenities and space for three new gates and four relocated gates. The bag claim buildings for Terminals D & E are connected with a one story addition that contains two additional baggage carousels.

Capacity Enhancement Program
On December 30, 2010 a 13 year $5.2 billion project that will extend two existing runways, and add one new runway was passed by the FAA. The project will also create two new passenger terminals, the first terminal will be built where terminals A east & west, B, C, D, E, and F are currently located, and the second terminal will be built across from the current terminal complex. The project will also relocate the UPS facility, and redevelop cargo city, the cargo complex at PHL.

The doc this referenced said the program wouldn't be complete until 2025.

 

[wings396]

Yes, the increased costs are why US opposes the plan. No other airline that I am aware of has endorsed it either.

 

[Claxon]

It needs people working there that aren't whiny entitlement victims.

Soon PHX will close and some new people can come to help.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Soon PHX will close and some new people can come to help.

And soon maybe you'll retire?? Where's Apollo? Don't you have pilots to annoy? Or is it a slow night where you've lost you're credibility?

 

[737823]

CLT ranked #2 overall best airport.

No way many airports like DFW or SEA are much better than CLT not to mention airports abroad like SIN or HKG. All USAir hubs are in dumpy airports dilapidated facilities. Compare USAir section of Terminal B at BOS to AA's, there is no comparison AA has invested money and made it more user friendly and comfortable for passengers.

Josh