INSIDE THIS ISSUESFO Puts the Finishing Touches on New Boarding Area E SFO Honored with Highest Concession Award SFO Recognizes Concession Employees for Outstanding Customer Service New FAA Procedure Expected to Improve On-Time Performance Flight Arrivals: Service Additions at SFO San Francisco from the David Rumsey Map Collection |
SFO Puts the Finishing Touches on New Boarding Area ESFO is nearing completion of Boarding Area E (BAE), the first phase of Terminal 3’s renovation. Home to United Airlines, BAE is scheduled to re-open to travelers on January 28, 2014. BAE was originally constructed in 1981 and offers 10 gates that will be able to accommodate more than 50 arrivals and 50 departures each day. BAE was renovated through a design-build partnership between Hensel Phelps, Gensler and the KPA Group and its sustainable design is expected to achieve LEED® Gold certification. The $138 million project has completely transformed the boarding area to meet the needs of today’s modern travelers. Key features include high-tech interactive displays, thoughtful amenities, unique local dining and shopping options, spacious waiting areas, natural lighting, sweeping views and art from the Airport’s award winning art program. Guests will also enjoy more thoughtful spaces for business travelers and engaging children’s play areas for families. The next phase of the Terminal 3 E (T3E) project will be the connecting concourse between BAE and Boarding Area F that includes a state-of-the-art security checkpoint with up to 10 lanes and new “wait-time” technology, an additional three gates, and expanded concessions and guest amenities. With a budget of $209 million, this portion of the project will re-open in phases between July 2014 and July 2015. Get a sneak peek at the T3E Community Day on Saturday, January 25, 2014 T3E Community Day is presented by SFO, Hensel Phelps, United Airlines and Boeing.
SFO Honored with Highest Concession AwardAirports Council International–North America (ACI-NA), the foremost advocate for airport operators in North America, awarded SFO the Richard A. Griesbach Award, its highest honor for the airport’s concession program. SFO was awarded for its excellent concession program in 2013 which reflects the flavors of the region and focuses on locally-sourced food and beverage concepts. “Over 80% of our concessions come from local operators, including Kara’s Cupcakes, Wakaba Sushi, and Fraiche Yogurt,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “With the unique tastes of the San Francisco Bay Area so well-represented at SFO, arriving customers often make a purchase at their favorite airport location before going home. We balance this with the nationally-recognized brands our customers enjoy, such as Starbucks and Kiehls. I am honored to have our concession programs recognized by the Airports Council International North America and I am proud of my team for their hard work and dedication.” For more information about shopping, dining, and other amenities at SFO, visit Shop, Dine & Relax.
SFO Recognizes Concession Employees for Outstanding Customer Service |
Ruben Gomez Jacky Aurigui Katrice Starling |
SFO recognized airport employees for their outstanding customer service as part of its “Above & Beyond” tenant recognition program for demonstrating a consistently high level of service. “These employees personify excellent customer service at SFO,” said Chief Operating Officer Tryg McCoy. “We are pleased to recognize them for creating an exceptional airport experience.” The “Above & Beyond” program, one of the first such tenant recognition programs in the nation, is designed to monitor and improve customer service levels by highlighting outstanding efforts at SFO. During a five-month period, SFO Travelers Information volunteers served as “mystery shoppers” at over 160 Airport restaurants, retailers, and services providers to identify employees who demonstrate a superior level of customer service. Of the hundreds of employees evaluated, three individuals were recognized: Grand Prize Winner: Ruben Gomez, Starbucks 2nd Prize: Jacky Aurigui, Brookstone 3rd Prize: Katrice Starling, Firewood Concession Winner: Gucci
New FAA Procedure Expected to Improve On-Time Performance
SFO announced the implementation of a new FAA procedure for arriving flights at SFO. The procedure, designed for airports with Closely-Spaced Parallel Runways (CSPR) like SFO, is expected to improve on-time performance during poor weather conditions. The new CSPR procedure allows both parallel runways to remain in use during reduced visibility, with arriving aircraft aligned in a staggered pattern. Prior to this enhancement, aircraft arriving at SFO during poor weather were required to approach in a single-file line. The FAA conducted extensive testing of this process prior to implementation. “As the only airline headquartered in the Bay Area, we are already seeing improvements as a result of the new CSPR approach,” said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. “We applaud SFO's work to invest in more efficient approaches.” The FAA implemented the new landing procedure at SFO on September 30, 2013. CSPR procedures are also in place at seven other airports around the U.S., including Newark, Boston, and Seattle. In 2005, SFO launched a Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach (SOIA), with a similar objective to improve runway utilization during bad weather. While this process remains in effect, the new CSPR procedure is expected to be available under a wider range of weather conditions.
Flight Arrivals: Service Additions at SFO
San Francisco from the David Rumsey Map CollectionSan Francisco was immediately improbable and inevitable. Much of the land at the northern tip of this hilly peninsula consisted of windswept sand dunes and was frequently blanketed with a cold fog during its summer season. But its location at the entrance to the largest natural harbor on the Pacific Coast, a series of auspicious events, and consecutive generations of citizens boldly reinventing their homes on their own terms all combined to produce a city considered by many of its residents and visitors to be one of the world’s finest only fifty years after its founding. By all accounts, the transition of this sleepy village clinging to the shoreline of a sheltered cove to a boisterous, thriving metropolis was sudden. Charts, maps, and illustrated views document the remarkable pace of San Francisco’s early development in the latter half of the nineteenth century and its perpetual state of transformation throughout the twentieth century. Enjoy the David Rumsey Map Collection, which is on display in Terminal 2, Departures, Post-Security through August 3, 2014. All objects and images on exhibition are from the David Rumsey Map Collection unless otherwise noted. Special thanks to Stanford University’s Digital and Rare Maps Librarian G. Salim Mohammed and City Archivist Susan Goldstein of the San Francisco Public Library for their generous assistance with this exhibition.
Introducing the Wag BrigadeSFO recently introduced its "Wag Brigade" of trained dogs into the Airport terminals to make passenger travel more enjoyable. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA) will bring specially trained dogs to walk the terminals with their handlers to take the stress out of air travel. The dogs can be identified by vests that read “Pet Me!” and are planned to be at SFO on a daily basis. "We are committed to creating the most enjoyable airport experience possible," said Chief Communications & Marketing Officer Kandace Bender. "The Wag Brigade adds a new element to what travelers can look forward to at SFO." All participating dogs are graduates of the SF SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) training program and are required to visit SFO prior to formal acceptance into the Wag Brigade program. Dogs are evaluated for temperament and comfort with large crowds, security requirements, and the Airport environment. "Interacting with therapy dogs has been proven to offer both physical and mental health benefits," said Dr. Jennifer Emmert, Animal Assisted Therapy Manager at the SF SPCA. The handlers are the dogs’ owners. All handlers have passed a 10-year background check and accompany the dogs at all times. Handlers wear identifying vests, and each attends classroom and in-terminal training to become familiar with the Airport and assist customers with general inquiries. About SF SPCA The SF SPCA is a community-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to saving, protecting and caring for cats and dogs. Since its establishment in 1868, the SF SPCA has served as a community resource and animal welfare advocate. Today, the SF SPCA’s offerings include the Veterinary Hospital at the Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center, the SF SPCA Adoption Center, behavior and training classes, animal camps for kids, animal assisted therapy, and a variety of community outreach programs. Learn more at sfspca.org.
SFO Golf Tournament Raises $60,000 for Local CharitiesThe SFO Charity Golf Tournament Committee recently donated $60,000 to local charities. The funds were raised during a charity golf tournament held on October 7, 2013. This year’s primary recipients were Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly and Donaldina Cameron House. They shared the major portion of the proceeds. Two added charities, Palcare and the North Peninsula Food Pantry & Dining Center shared a smaller portion of the proceeds. The SFO Golf Tournament Committee is comprised of representatives of the San Francisco Airport community who include members of the San Francisco International Airport, the San Francisco Police Department–Airport Bureau, the San Francisco Fire Department–Airport Division, United Airlines, Virgin America, Cathay Pacific, Signature Flight Support, AvAirPros, and ING Financial Partners. Honorary Chairpersons for the event were Airport Director John L. Martin, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, and San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.
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