Getting to, through, and out of airports fast is the aim of most fliers. To that end these developments:

•  Ground’s just been broken on Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International to significantly lengthen Runway 9R/27L (runways are aligned with points on the compass). What was a 5,276 strip will eventually be 8,000 feet. Here’s why that matters: FLL will then possess a pair of parallel runways that can accommodate mainline jet traffic. That should increase the airport’s ability to handle more traffic. Where it could accommodate 84 flights per hour, the number will be 107. That sort of things can go a long way in cutting delays. This runway has been nearly 20 years in the making. If you’re headed to south Florida it could eventually make your trip a bit easier.
• Akron-Canton Airport just made major progress in getting folks through security faster. CAK’s new Transportation Security Administration screening checkpoint is four times larger than the one it replaces. There is now a quartet of lanes, and a couple of more can be added.
• Finally, if you’re picking up friends, family, or colleagues at Austin-Bergstrom International it’s a lot easier these days now that the airport sports a free cell phone waiting lot. Now that it’s up and running there’s no more free half-hour parking at the airport garage and Parking Lot A. The new cell lot is located near the terminal, at 2801-A Spirit of Texas Drive. From Texas Highway 71, as you’re driving in from Austin, take the Airport Cargo/Service Entrance and turn right onto Spirit of Texas Drive. Then, go to the four-way stop. The cell phone waiting area will be off to your left.

What sort of improvements is your hometown airport making? Tell us about them.

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: SergioMonsalve)

Jerry Chandler (2564 Posts)

Jerry Chandler loves window seats – a perch with a 35,000-foot view of it all. His favorite places: San Francisco and London just about any time of year, autumn in Manhattan and the seaside in winter. An award-winning aviation and travel writer for 30 years, his goal is to introduce each of his grandkids to their first flight.

airport roundup, airports, Fort Lauderdale International