Others join the cause to fight congestion

I’m writing this on the Amtrak Acela Express, returning from New York. I was attending the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s NextGen Symposium. 

NextGen refers to the project to (finally) modernize air traffic control and turn it into a satellite-based system. The Port Authority runs the New York area airports which are among the most consistently delayed in America. Modernizing air traffic control would go a long way to alleviating those delays. 

The Partnership for New York City estimates that delays and congestion will rob the area of $80 billion in economic activity the next decade and a half. I think that number might be low. But even it if it right, if you look at the country as a whole the number would be more than a trillion — easy. Anyone think we have a trillion dollars of economic activity to throw away? 

The Port Authority brought together a number of aviation interests, but more significantly, brought together leaders in the business, labor and civic communities. The National Alliance to Advance NextGen is composed of nearly 100 organizations representing millions of people. ACI-NA is a member of this coalition. 

That is critical. Failure to do something about this issue has an enormous economic cost. But participation in this debate has been limited to aviation interests. By expanding the universe, the Port Authority has performed a valuable service by demonstrating the true economic cost of inaction.

Filed under: Airlines, Airports, Government policy, Regulators, Travels

Inauguration of Barack Obama

Early this morning, January 20, my wife and I left for the Alexandria waterfront to catch a boat ride to Washington for the inauguration. The bridges from Virginia, where I live, to D.C. were closed to personal vehicles and the Metro was packed. So the boat seemed a good idea.

We had to go through security and the ability of the water taxi company

Then Senator Joe Biden with ACI-NA President Greg Principato a few years back when Greg worked on the Biden staff.

to provide the service had to be approved by the Coast Guard. In fact our boat was the only one out there except for a single Coast Guard craft.

After we cut through the ice and arrived, we walked toward the Capitol, using the 3rd Street Tunnel as a pedestrian walkway to get to our destination. Along the way, on New Jersey Avenue, we even passed right by Mariah Carey.

We had been invited to a party at 101 Constitution Avenue, which is the building closest

to the Capitol. We spent a little time up on the roof along with a couple of teams of reporters (one of which was interviewing Al Sharpton). While up there we ran into an old colleague of mine from Senator Biden’s staff in the 1980’s. We enjoyed reminiscing about our time with the new Vice President. The view up there was just beautiful.

The party, hosted by Van Scoyoc Associates, was large and enthusiastic. I also saw Jeff Fegan, who runs DFW airport, and Bradley Rubinstein, who works for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Obama's Inauguration viwed from 101 Constitution Ave.

I thought President Obama’s speech was easily the best of the four inaugural speeches I have heard in person, and among the best ever delivered. He talked about universal truths and high ideals while also talking frankly about the challenges we face (I was happy he mentioned energy about which I’ve written much in this space) and the fact that we all have a stake and a role in the outcome. It was awfully good.

Afterwards we went to the office of the Air Transport Association to watch the parade. ATA’s offices are right on the parade route and we had a great view. It was great of ATA to invite us.

A number of key aviation figures were

President Obama's limo passing by the ATA's offices during the parade.

there including, of course, Jim May and his staff. I saw Pat Forrey, who runs the National Air Traffic Control Association, talking to a candidate for the FAA’ top post. I also saw Mark Dunkerley and his lovely wife, he is the CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, who I’ve known for a long time. Former FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, now CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, was there and we shared stories of trying to get around Washington with 2 million of our closest friends.

The ATA party was a great event and evidence that, while we do not always agree, there is a great deal of good will in this industry.

We have much to do in 2009 to help ensure a strong future for the aviation industry.

The new president has called all Americans to try to work through our differences and find a way forward to a brighter future. He was talking to those of us in the aviation business too.

Filed under: Airlines, Airports, Government policy, Regulators, Travels, politics

Committing to a New Energy Policy

It looks like 2008 will end with our country in a recession and, surprisingly given how things looked in the summer, with our country further away than ever to coming to grips with the need for a real energy policy.

While in New Jersey visiting family earlier this week, I purchased gas (full serve too — remember this was in Jersey) for $1.39 a gallon. 

As my father reminded me, this is good news for many folks struggling in the recession to make ends meet and who had trouble affording gas to go to work or to job interviews. And he is undoubtedly right.

But surely, in this country in which anything is possible, we can figure out a way to harness the commitment to a new energy policy that was present when gas was $147 a barrel (more than $4 a gallon), while ensuring that people who need help getting by can receive it.

I saw this morning that oil is around $37 a barrel, making good on a prediction this past fall by analyst Peter Beutel that oil would go at least this low. His prediction came in the form of a warning:  that oil would go to 37 and maybe lower, that we as a country would lose our will on energy policy and do nothing, and that the next time we have a spike it will go twice or three times as high as in the summer and we’d be in real trouble.

The aviation community came together as one in the summer on this issue and few industries are as impacted by energy spikes as we are. We need to maintain our focus and encourage our new president to maintain his, as he promised he would in his 60 Minutes interview.

Filed under: Airlines, Airports, Government policy, Regulators, Travels, politics

The new Indy Airport and Ray LaHood

I’m writing this from Champaign, Illinois where I am visiting family. We flew to Indianapolis (the closest non-stop destination from Washington) and drove in.

The Civic Plaza in the new Indianapolis International Airport.

We saw the new terminal in Indianapolis. Just beautiful. No, there is no marble, no expensive shiny stuff that airlines like to claim we put in terminals (they always talk about “Taj Mahal” terminals. Anyone out there ever see an airport that looks remotely like the Taj Mahal?  Anyone know whether the Taj Mahal looks like an airport?)

Anyway, it is bright and comfortable, very passenger friendly.

As you can imagine lots of people in Illinois are talking about the nomination of Rep. Ray LaHood to be Transportation Secretary.

As I mentioned in my statement, our issues cry out for the kind of bipartisan action and leadership that Congressman LaHood has pursued throughout his career. I am very encouraged by this pick.

I might also mention that he represents my wife’s hometown (Jacksonville, Illinois) in Congress. We’ve had friends who have worked there and we’ve had a few opportunities to cross paths. He is a genuinely good person; the kind of person whom one colleague once said the founders must have imagined would serve in Congress. And he, more than anyone in Congress these past two decades, tried to bring people together across the aisle to get things done. In this, he learned from his predecessor and former boss, Bob Michel, who was once Republican leader of the House and a very impressive gentleman.

I congratulate Rep. LaHood on his nomination and look forward to working with him and his team.

Filed under: Airports, Government policy, Regulators, Travels, politics

Day 2 in Brussels – serious talk and serious food

We’ve spent a couple of very productive days in Brussels, with one more day of meetings to follow

 

We arrived Sunday, which was a clear, sunny, beautiful day. Chris Bidwell (our VP Security) went to Bruges, which is one of the most beautiful small European towns you will ever see (it was featured in a recent movie, In Bruges — the town is much better than the movie!). I had already been there twice so didn’t go there.

 

Instead, Debby McElroy (our EVP for Policy) and I walked around Brussels. Debby had never been here, so she made sure she visited the Sablon, Grand Place and Manneken Pis. For those who don’t know, Manneken Pis is a statue of a little boy urinating. It is one of the symbols of Brussels. The story goes that a rich man lost his little boy and promised to build a statue of him if he was found. The boy was found relieving himself so that is the statue that was built. Sometime, he is dressed in traditional garb from any of a number of countries.

 

On Monday we visited our colleagues at the ACI Europe office. Olivier Jankovec has put together an incredible team there and we spent time with them. Chris stayed behind to meet with his counterpart and Debby and I met at the US Embassy with the FAA office here. Tony Fazio and Christopher Barks are really dedicated professionals and represent the agency and their country well. Last night, we had dinner with several of Olivier’s team as well as Angela Gittens (Director General of ACI World) and Craig Bradbrook (who handles security and facilitation for ACI World). They flew up from Geneva the previous day. The restaurant was on Avenue Louise, a truly great urban boulevard.

 

We spent the entire day Tuesday meeting with our Europe and World colleagues discussing a number of important economic, environmental, security and facilitation related issues. The more I work on these, and other issues, the more I am convinced that airports operate as the real focal point of the public interest, caring for passengers, ensuring price and service competition and choice, looking after the community’s environment and serving as the public face of aviation.

 

We finished the day at a restaurant I last visited 8 years ago, Poivre & Sel (pepper and salt in French). I remembered it as an outstanding restaurant and our meal tonight brought that memory to life. Service is friendly and quick and the food is outstanding. It is one of those places that opens up to the kitchen, adding to the atmosphere. I highly recommend it if you are in Brussels. It is at Rue du Panasse 2; very near the European Parliament.

 

Tomorrow we have lunch with key officials from the European Commission and then meet with the US Mission to the EU. I have been visiting the Mission since that first trip with the Governors I wrote about last time. I always think it is a good idea to stop by and share impressions.

 

First, I will purchase some chocolates for my office and my family. Normally, I go to a place called Mary Chocolatier. I first learned about it on that first trip to Brussels 19 years ago and have always gone there. The chocolate is just great and the place is featured in that book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.

 

But Olivier has convinced me I need to try another place on the Sablon, so I will give it a shot and let you know. It will have a long way to go to beat Mary!

 

Filed under: Airports, Regulators, Travels

On the road to Brussels and diplomatic visits

Writing this on the way to Brussels, Belgium. I’m meeting with Angela Gittens, Director General of ACI World and Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, along with members of their staffs. Two ACI-North America colleagues are coming with me, Debby McElroy, our Executive VP for Policy and Chris Bidwell, our VP for Security and Facilitation.

 As we move into 2009, there are a number of important issues whose relevance does not stop at national borders. Airport economics, security, facilitation and environment will all see important activity in the coming year. It is important that the global airport community be on the same page and communicate a clear vision that will benefit the international air transportation system and, most importantly, our passengers.

While there, we will also meet with key staff from the European Commission. Daniel Calleja, who directs the commission’s aviation work, is someone I have known and counted as a friend for a number of years. There are few international civil servants more capable or dedicated. Together with the State Department’s John Byerly, Daniel negotiated the US-EU agreement in place now and is working on the next phase of the relationship. John Byerly also fits that description of a first class international civil servant.

I first met Daniel years ago when we were working on a dispute between the US and EU over aircraft noise standards. An issue for which there seemed no solution was finally settled thanks in no small measure to his work. We may also see some members and/or staff from the European Parliament.

We will also stop at the FAA Brussels office and the US Mission to the EU. I have been to Brussels a number of times on business, and always try to stop and see our dedicated diplomatic staffs, who work so hard on my behalf.

My first trip to Brussels was in 1989, when I helped organize a National Governors Association trip. Among the governors were then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, who went on to larger things; and then-New Jersey Governor Tom Kean, more recently known for his outstanding work as co-chair of the 9/11 Commission.

At the time, we met with the Commission President Jacques Delors, then-NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner and other European leaders. This was July, 1989. The Polish government had recently been forced to accept the participation of Solidarity; the Hungarians had opened their border to East Germans seeking to go to the west. There was a lot going on, and it was an exciting time to be there. Of course, just a few months later, the Berlin Wall would be gone and the world changed forever. For me, I can’t think about those things without remembering that first trip to Brussels and all the discussions we had about the political earthquake happening around us.

Perhaps that is why Brussels is among my favorite cities, though the fact that the food is outstanding doesn’t hurt. The Grand Place is among the most beautiful places on earth, and the Sunday antique market in the Sablon is a lot of fun.

Of course, I won’t have a lot of time to enjoy those things as we have a great packed into our three days of meetings. I look forward to writing about those meetings, and maybe also about a few of the sites, including what I think is the world’s best chocolate shop!

Filed under: Airports, Regulators, Travels