Gaining pace at Chicago

Chicago O’Hare opened a new runway recently, which the city hopes will cut delays by nearly 50% and permit up to 90,000 additional flights per annum as demand grows.

The 10,800 foot runway, built over the site of a former cemetery, is part of the airport’s USD$8bn modernization project. When the expansion is complete, O’Hare expects to have six east-west parallel runways and two crosswind runways.

O’Hare handles the second largest number of passengers in the US after Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, according to the Airports Council International. It has been notorious for delays through congestion and Chicago’s often wild weather.

For the 12 months ending July 2013, 68.3% of O’Hare’s departures were on time, compared to 72.1% for all major airports, according to US Department of Transportation statistics.

 

Sad day for Frontier

Frontier Airlines’ decision to drop its cargo facility has been met with a mixed response by the sector. Whilst it has not been a front runner in the freight stakes, nonetheless it has enjoyed a positive reputation in this industry sector. However, the end of September marked the passing of this facility.

Those saddened by the airline’s decision have commented on the competitive price structure that was the carrier’s trademark. One of its main hubs, that of Denver, looks likely to be untroubled by any ripples in the wake of the decision, though; Frontier’s cargo volumes have been dropping noticeably there of late. The fact that the carrier is currently up for sale may have influenced the decision to cut out the freight factor.

 

 

New temperature-controlled facility

FedEx Express has begun the construction of a new temperature-controlled facility and heavyweight pick-up and delivery operation at the FedEx Express World Hub in Memphis. Covering some 88,000 square feet, this new facility will interface with existing Memphis hub operations.

“At FedEx, we offer an outstanding customer experience for those shipping time- and temperature-sensitive goods,” declared Richard Smith, Managing Director, FedEx Express Life Sciences and Specialty Services.

“With our new, world-class cold chain facility, we will be able to better manage health care products and other perishables in the event of unforeseen delays, such as clearance holds or inclement weather, and give our customers the peace of mind they deserve when shipping sensitive goods.”

Scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2014, the FedEx facility will provide temperature-controlled rooms for frozen, cold and controlled room temperature products. The construction will also feature flexible walls that will allow precise temperature control and segregation of commodities, alongside real-time CO₂, humidity and temperature monitoring.

The features of FedEx’s new building should lead to a more precise temperature control of shipments once they have left the aircraft and as they travel through the Memphis hub.

 

United fined over unacceptable tarmac delay

The US Department of Transportation has fined United Airlines a total of US$1.1m for lengthy tarmac delays that took place at Chicago’s O’Hare on July 13 last year. It said that the airline had been ordered to cease and desist from future violations of the tarmac delay rule.

This figure represents the largest fine ever assessed for a tarmac delay violation since the rule limiting long tarmac delays first took effect some three years ago. Of the US$1.1m fine, United will pay just US$475,000; the remainder will cover mitigation measures for affected passengers and significant corrective actions by United to enhance future compliance with tarmac delay requirements.