"Nashville Airport upgrade is route to more comfort, security"

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Airport upgrade is route to more comfort, security 
Airport Authority counts on more specialty retail shops, restaurants to
boost lagging concession revenue
By YVETTE CRAIG
The Tennessean


A centralized security checkpoint, retail shopping and nationally recognized
restaurants and coffee bars are part of a $35 million face lift scheduled to
begin next year at Nashville International Airport.

The ambitious project is aimed at improving comfort and efficiency and
increasing concession revenue. The improvements also should help the
facility to deal with Music City's resurgent demand for air travel. Airport
officials expect more than 9 million annual passengers by next year for the
first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The entire renovation project stems from the (Metropolitan Nashville
Airport Authority's) desire to provide a world-class facility for our
passengers and guests," said Lynne Lowrance, an authority spokeswoman. "The
authority is passionate about customer service and we have an obligation to
our nine million customers to provide the finest scope of air and landside
services possible."

The project will be paid for from money the airport authority collects from
a variety of sources. Like most major airports, Nashville generates revenue
from parking, news and gift concessions, advertising, airline fees, rental
car revenues, restaurants and a surcharge on airfare.

Some of the money has been building in a reserve for years in anticipation
of the project, airport officials said. Some will come from federal and
state grants. The rest will be financed through loans.

Passengers traveling in and out of the airport will see the first signs of
the project next summer.

Once the work has been completed, airport customers will have access to
casual dining restaurants, gourmet coffee shops, lounges, cafes, a
full-service bank, more souvenirs stores and specialty retail shops. There
will be a new children's play area, a hair salon, video game rooms, a
medical clinic and meditation room.

"I've always enjoyed traveling through Nashville," said Joy Green of
Louisville, Ky. "I get in and get out with no problems. My only complaint is
not having enough time to shop."

When told that she could get her brunette tresses shampooed and shaped in
between flights, her eyes lit up.

"Wow, that's pretty nice," said Green, an engineer who travels mostly on
business. "I would never think to make a hair appointment at an airport. But
I guess if I had the time I would try it."

The project also calls for the rebirth of the vacant Admiral's Club, located
on the upper level of Concourse C. The fee-based executive-style lounge will
not have a specific airline affiliation and probably will be attractive to
frequent fliers.

A proposed business center, smoking lounge and cigar/smoke shop are also
slated for that upper level.

Having one area for all passenger security checks will cut down on the need
for Transportation Safety Administration manpower and move as many as 440
passengers in line at one time, the authority said.

The security checkpoints will move to an area now occupied by the Capitol
Hill Grille and a row of white rocking chairs, between the C concourse and
the A-B concourses.

The renovation project will be divided into three phases in an effort to
minimize the disruption to operations. All work is expected to be completed
by the end of 2008.

In addition to security and concessions, passengers will notice new
flat-screen monitors for flight information, a moving sidewalk, remodeled
bathrooms, new paint, carpet, wall coverings and skylights.

Behind the scenes, the airport will feature a new heating and air
conditioning system, a $200,000 boardroom and a new baggage conveyor.

The airport has 15 restaurants and two ice cream stands. Revenue from
concessions last fiscal year totaled $25.4 million.

But a study found that the airport's concessions are "under performing" in
the areas were travelers mingle before going through the security
checkpoints.

To address that underperformance, the renovation plan aims to move more of
the restaurants beyond the checkpoints and add 5,100 square feet of food
space. That should translate into $1.4 million a year in additional rental
income, airport officials said.

Airport officials hope to add local restaurant names, such as Noshville,
Rotier's, Cracker Barrel and O'Charley's, to a mix of national brands such
as Wendy's, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Subway.

"My kids love McDonald's," said Amy Watson, chasing down her rambunctious 4-
and 2-year-old daughters to keep them from running into luggage-toting
travelers. "And, when they are happy, I'm happy - especially before we get
on a plane."
  
Attached Photo's/Graphics:
 
Concourse C will get more restaurants and retail shops, both of which are
good for the Nashville airport's financial bottom line. 
 
Virginia Belt, 5, of San Antonio, Texas, enjoys the children's play area,
which moves to Concourse C in the renovation plans. 
 
Flight monitors between the American Airlines and Northwest ticket counters
signal arrivals and departures. Renovations are planned in this area in the
interests of passenger and airport security. All access to concourses will
be funneled through a new centralized checkpoint with 10 security gates.

Airport's terminal to get face lift.

The airport's growth by the numbers.

The airport's passengers by the numbers.

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