Taking off Travel blog

Bob Hope Airport has a long history. Originally known as Angeles Mesa Drive Airport, the airport became known as United Airport in 1930 when construction of a new airport facility was complete. At the time United Airlines and Boeing had a major role. For some time after that, it was the largest commercial airport in LA, a crown which it lost in 1946. The airport was renamed Union Air Terminal in 1934, then Lockheed Air Terminal following its acquisition by Lockheed in 1940. Two more name changes were to follow in 1967 and 1978, before the airport was renamed to Bob Hope Airport in 2003, after the deceased comedian who kept a plane there. Plans to expand the airport have met with opposition and there will be no expansion until at least 2015.

Services and Amenities

Bob Hope Airport covers 550 acres and the airport terminal covers 200,000 square feet. It serves commercial airlines including Alaska Airlines, American, JetBlue. SkyWest/Delta Connection, SkyWest/United Express, Southwest Airlines and US Airways. It handled 4.5 million passengers in 2010.

Passenger services at Bob Hope Airport include shuttles to Metrolink and Amtrak services, free Wi-Fi, lots of food options, traveler assistance, and displays commemorating aviation history. See this map for full details of services available.

Burbank Airport Parking

Park Ride Fly USA offers Burbank airport parking facilities which supplement the airport’s own facilities. If you’re looking for discount parking at Bob Hope Airport,  check out Southwest Burbank Airport Parking, VSP Burbank Airport Parking and QuikPark Burbank Airport Parking. You car will be in a fenced in, well lit and secure lot and if you reserve in advance, your space will be waiting when you get to the parking lot.

Things to do Near Burbank Airport

One thing you won’t have to worry about if you fly into Burbank Airport is finding something to do. Instead you will have the problem of what to leave out. Here just a few suggestions:

• Check out the Warner Brothers studio tour.
• Disneyland, of course (and check out our previous posts on Disney to see the kind of magic you’re likely to experience.
• Tour Beverley Hills to look at the homes of movie stars.
• Get tickets to see a show taped – like Ellen’s show, for example.
• See stars (a different kind) at the Griffith Observatory.
• Immerse yourself in the Old West at the Autry.

Image: Edgar Zuniga Jr.

Port Columbus International Airport is lies 6 miles east of Columbus, Ohio. It carries millions of passengers each year and is run by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. The CMH designation stands for Columbus Municipal Hangar. Port Columbus is the largest passenger airport in central Ohio and the second busiest in the state. The airport carried 6.4 million passengers in 2011 and substantial amounts of air mail and air freight.

History of Port Columbus Airport

The site of this airport was chosen by Charles Lindbergh. It was the eastern air terminus of an air and rail route connecting New York and Los Angeles. It opened in 1929 and the original terminal building and hangars are still being used. Upgrades in the 1970s and 1980s improved flight capacity to 250 per day and added a 7 gate concourse. Subsequent renovations added shopping areas, new hangars and offices, a new control tower, new arrival and departure boards and more. Today, the airport covers 2,185 acres and has two runways, three terminals and 44 gates. Terminal maps are available here. Read more »

Burlington International Airport (BTV) is a public and military airport in South Burlington, Vermont.

Lake Champlain

History of BTV

Originally called Burlington Municipal Airport, it had its first landing in August 1920. During World War II the airport was a key part of the Defense Zone and was the busiest airport in the world at times in 1942 and 1943. In 1969, the airport was renamed Burlington International Airport.

Since its start on a 72 acre field, the airport has undergone considerable expansion. It now covers 942 acres and has two runways. In 2010, the airport handled more than 640,000 passengers. Its heaviest passenger traffic period was in July 2008 when it carried 79,154 passengers. It serves Eastern and Midwestern airline hubs, offering services from Delta Connection, JetBlue Airways, Porter Airlines, United Express, mesa Airlines and US Airways Express. Major destinations served include New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Newark and Detroit.

The airport also holds an Army Aviation Support Facility and the Burlington Air National Guard Base.

BTV Airport Parking and Services Read more »

Once known as Moisant Field, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), was originally named after aviator John Moisant (the abbreviation stands for Moisant Stock Yards). While discussions about a new airport to replace Lakefront Airport started in the 1930s, it was not until after the war that construction began and commercial services began in 1946. At the time it was one of the nation’s biggest commercial airports, with a 7,000 foot runway and three runaways measuring 5,000 feet.

In 1960, the airport’s name was changed to New Orleans International Airport, a name it would retain until 2001 when the name was changed again in honor of Louis Armstrong’s 100th birthday. Read more »

Today we’re looking at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), a follow-up to previous coverage of New York airports, including JFK, LaGuardia (LGA) and Albany (ALB) airports.  Buffalo Airport serves Southern Ontario in Canada as well as the New York metropolitan area.

History

The airport started life as the Buffalo Municipal Airport in 1926, so it’s one of the country’s oldest public airports. It started passenger service in 1927 with flights to Cleveland.  The airport had successive expansions in 1955 and 1961 and its name was changed to Greater Buffalo International Airport in 1959. Expansions continued to address the growing air traffic, but it soon became clear that a new airport would be needed to keep pace with modern requirements. This was built between the existing terminals and opened in November 1997 as the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. The old terminals were then demolished.

The airport now has 25 gates and handled more than 5 million passengers in 2010. According to the airport it’s the fifth least expensive place to fly in the US, with a price per mile of about half of the most expensive place. It serves several major air carriers including AirTran, American Airlines, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United and US Airways.

Services and Amenities

BUF Airport has a range of useful passenger services and amenities. In addition to food outlets and shops, the airport has a cell phone lot, laptop workstations near gates 3,14, and 20, and charging stations for cell phones and MP3 players at gates 4,14, and 20 and in the baggage claim. There are also special services for disabled travelers. Check out the terminal map and list of accommodation for more nearby amenities.

BUF Airport Parking

In addition to the onsite airport parking, we also offer Buffalo airport parking reservations. These include Thrifty Airport Parking, Airport Valet Parking and airport parking from The Parking Spot. Book on the web for discounted airport parking rates which are locked in when you reserve.

Things to Do Near Buffalo Airport

If you’re visiting the area, you’ll find plenty to do near Buffalo-Niagara International Airport.  You could make things easy by hopping on a plane and visiting Niagara Falls, but if you want to stay in the US, here are some suggestions:

• Go on a sailing adventure on the Spirit of Buffalo. Best done in summer, a sail on a 73 foot schooner is one of the areas most popular things to do.
• Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House.
• Check out the beautiful Victorian homes, lovely walks and eclectic nightlife in Allentown.
• Find out more about Theodore Roosevelt at Wilcox Mansion.
• See the Heritage Farm (and the animals) at Buffalo Zoo.

Image: Craig Damlo