Airport woos local businesses for new retail area

Posted by kturner April 15, 2008 18:39PM

 

Tami Jones-Coulibaly wants to open a children's activity center at the airport. She thinks it would be a great way for travelers to occupy their kids while waiting to board their planes.

 

The Glenwillow resident was among the business people who stopped Tuesday at the I-X Center in Cleveland to pitch ideas and explore opportunities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which is set to double its retail and food operations in the next decade.

 

BAA Cleveland, named by the city to manage and expand the airport shopping area, held the outreach event to woo businesses, builders, suppliers and entrepreneurs like Jones-Coulibaly.

 

Mark Knight, president of BAA USA Inc., said the local community will play a key role in development of Airmall -- the new name for Hopkins' retail area.

 

Plans are to have a mix of national and local businesses, Knight said. The mixed concept would give travelers national stores they like and businesses unique to local areas at normal retail prices, he said.

 

"This is not about having a cookie-cutter approach," he said.

 

He would not reveal names of national brands that may come to Cleveland, but other airports under BAA have stores like Brooks Brothers and The Gap mixed with local fare such as Sam Adams Bar in Boston.

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/04/airport_woos_local_businesses.html

This sucks.  This was my preferred route for going to Chicago.  I hate flying into and out of O'Hare, and I really don't want to switch to Southwest just to keep going into MDW.

 

 

Continental to end Cleveland-to-Midway express flights on May 31

Posted by Alison Grant April 18, 2008 09:37AM

Categories: Breaking News, Consumer affairs, Economic development

Continental Airlines will end flights in and out of Chicago's Midway International Airport at the end of the May.

You and me both!!

 

This really sucks, I hate ORD!!  Those planes are always packed.

 

Getting to and from MDW is more convenient as its a smaller airport and the Continental area was right by the security gates.

 

On the flip side, competing with the LCC on this route probably wore CO down.  Also, I'm reading that Continental and Northwest were against any terminal improvements at MDW, so may this has something to do with it.  :? 

 

Lets hope that we now get hourly 737 service to ORD or I'll be forced to take United.

 

Could Baltimore and IAD be next?

taking my last trip through mdw on CO May 15-18 apparently...  Having to ride the Blue Line may make me permanently switch to Southwest as far as Chicago is concerned! 

We know that Southwest rules MDW but couldn't CO bring everything to MDW and forget ORD or do too many people use codeshares on intl flights from ORD?  Between EWR, IAH and codeshares in ATL/DTW, I would think there's enough intl flights. 

^The ORD flights are about the business traveller -- with rare exception, I'm flying into MDW if I'm going to Chicago for fun but for work trips it's almost always ORD since so many of the companies I'm visting are in the Chicago NW burbs.

Many companies are in the burbs but aren't MORE in the city? 

Of course many many are in the city (not sure if it's more or not) but the Chicago suburbs are filled with both HQs and back office operations, at least for the kind of companies we work with.

^That's definitely true.

 

I will not take the Blue Line from O'Hare anymore after the last time a few weeks ago.  Wasting one hour of the workday is not worth it.

We know that Southwest rules MDW but couldn't CO bring everything to MDW and forget ORD or do too many people use codeshares on intl flights from ORD?  Between EWR, IAH and codeshares in ATL/DTW, I would think there's enough intl flights. 

 

Cle2032, I understand your concern as a consumer, but you have to look at this from an airline operations point of view.

• MDW is mostly geared for leisuer travelers.  Leisuer routes are rarely money makers or profitable.
  
• ORD has a lounge and skyteam international codeshares are there, so it makes sense to utilize aircraft at a location where it can capilize on connections at a non hub facility with lots of O&D traffic.
  
• MDW is LUVs second busiest airport, not many carriers can match fares and if you notice almost all other carriers have cut back at MDW or put Regional Jets on those routes.
  
• I hope that the planes are utilized on routes to DCA
  

You aviation buffs might like the photos I've added to my trip to England spread at:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15600.msg277314.html#msg277314

This is undoubtedly good news for Continental and especially Cleveland, despite all the previous assurances from Gordon Bethune and the analyses of some our the more astute airline-thinkers on this forum.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/04/continental_will_not_merge_wit.html

 

Continental will not merge with United

Posted by Alison Grant April 27, 2008 19:23PM

Categories: Breaking News, Business Impact

 

Continental Airlines announced tonight that it has no plans to merge with another airline at this time, ending weeks of speculation that it would join forces with United Airlines to create the world's biggest airline.

 

The Houston-based carrier said its board met earlier today and unanimously supported management's recommendation to continue as a stand-alone airline for now.

 

The board weighed the merits of merging and decided the risks outweighed gains, the company said in a letter to employees.

 

"We have significant cultural, operational and financial strengths compared to the rest of the industry, and we want to protect and enhance those strengths - which we believe would be placed at risk in a merger with another carrier in today's environment," Chairman and Chief Executive Lawrence Kellner told employees in a written statement.

 

Ricky Smith, director of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, said the announcement from Continental "is good news, obviously. But it also reflects Continental's commitment to and success of their current business model."

 

While he ruled out a merger for now, Continental will continue to review potential alliances, Kellner said in the letter, which was also signed by President Jeff Smisek.

 

The airline also is studying its membership in SkyTeam, the group of airlines with which Continental partners. The SkyTeam alliance includes Northwest Airlines, Delta, KLM, Air France, AeroMexico, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Korean Air and Czech Airlines. That includes the partnership and reciprocal mileage award arrangement with Northwest Airlines.

 

Kellner said that Continental is in an "enviable position in the New York market. He also cited "a powerful hub in Houston, and hubs in Cleveland and Guam."

 

Continental's trans-Atlantic service is solid and enhanced by recent direct flights to London's Heathrow Airport, Kellner said. He did not mention flights to Paris, but Continental last week confirmed it is going ahead with plans for a May 22 launch of a Cleveland-Paris flight.

continental has created an industry consolidation web portal.

 

http://www.co-industryconsolidation.com/index.php

---

Continental Airlines Chooses Not To Merge

 

HOUSTON, April 27, 2008 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) released the following message to its more than 45,000 employees from Larry Kellner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Jeff Smisek, President.

 

Dear Co-worker,

 

We want you to know that our Board of Directors met today and has unanimously supported management’s recommendation that, in the current industry environment, the best course for Continental is to not merge with another airline at this time.

 

Our recommendation, and the Board’s careful and considered decision, followed a comprehensive review of our strategic alternatives, assisted by our senior officers and advised by Continental’s outside financial and legal advisors.  The Board very carefully considered all the risks and benefits of a merger with another airline, and determined that the risks of a merger at this time outweigh the potential rewards, as compared to Continental’s prospects on a standalone basis.

 

We have significant cultural, operational and financial strengths compared to the rest of the industry, and we want to protect and enhance those strengths -- which we believe would be placed at risk in a merger with another carrier in today’s environment.  We will, however, continue to review potential alliances and our membership in SkyTeam.  We are considering alternatives to SkyTeam as we carefully evaluate which major global alliance will be best for Continental over the long term.

 

While some would prefer to see Continental pursue a merger, we strongly believe we have made the right decision – one that is in the best interests of our stockholders, co-workers, customers and the communities we serve.

 

Every U.S. carrier, including Continental, is under enormous pressure from record high fuel prices, a slowing U.S. economy and a weak dollar.  In today’s harsh environment, we must continue to adjust our business model to ensure we successfully navigate through these difficult times, so that in the future we can once again grow and prosper.  As we take actions, we will communicate them to you as soon as possible.  In the meantime, we must all continue to concentrate on what we do so well: delivering clean, safe and reliable air transportation every day.

 

Even in these tough times, we have great strengths.  We have an enviable position in the New York market, a powerful hub in Houston, and hubs in Cleveland and Guam.  We have a solid trans-Atlantic route network, which has recently been enhanced by our access to London Heathrow.  We also have a great Latin American network and a growing portfolio of routes to India and Asia.  We fly the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleet and have the best new aircraft order book among the major network carriers.

 

Most importantly, we have our Working Together culture, and we will ensure it remains intact. We’ve achieved our industry-leading customer service reputation because of you – our co-workers.  We will all work together to get through these tough times.

 

We are both proud to be on your team.

Yippie.

Now I hope that Cleveland's "expansion" plans are not scrapped or severly scaled back.

 

I say wait for United and or USAir to crash and burn and pick up the pieces.  Southwest is going after USAir in Denver and Phily.  SW has already run USAir out of many airport/regions.  It's only a matter of time.

Now I hope that Cleveland's "expansion" plans are not scrapped or severly scaled back.

 

Ah, hm.  No such luck:

 

EDIT: Although, one could consider a (perceived) timeline extension as something other than a "scrapped" or "scaled back" plan.  It appears that the number of additional flights will remain the same.

 

Hopkins expansion curtailed with Continental in turbulent times

Posted by Alison Grant May 08, 2008 15:02PM

Categories: Aviation, Breaking News, Economic development

 

A $50 million upgrade of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, announced with great anticipation last fall, has been sharply curtailed because of uncertainty in the airline industry, city officials said.

 

A separate $30 million project to build a new customs facility in the airport's terminal -- to fix the bottleneck that can develop when two international flights overlap -- also has been scaled back, the city said.

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/05/hopkins_expansion_curtailed_wi.html

I was just about to post that.  I'm so pissed.  that international area is an embarrassment.

All things considered, this is about the best that one could expect, given the current economic climate.  Certainly the decision not to merge with United was a good, conservative business decision.  The choice by Continental to hold off capital improvements until the airline industry's future is clearer reflects, in my opinion, the same type of reasonable judgment that has kept Continental afloat.

that international area is an embarrassment.

 

Yes it is.  When I got off the London flight last year, I was embarrassed.

However, they played with the time line and now the airport is caught of guard.  The catch 22 is once the airline industry finances do stabilize, there won't be any way for Continental (or any other international carrier) will have a dump of an international "terminal" to deal with.

 

Have you ever been in that area when more than one plane arrives?

 

We need to work out a way to get this financed and started so that we're not playing catchup once again.  Cause Continental will use that as an excuse to pump more regional jets into Cleveland and more mainline and international flights into Newark.

 

My secondary concern is we also need to be ahead of the game because when the Delta/NorthWorst shoe drops, hubs will close and that way continental can cherry pick routes.  They can't expand in Newark so the only option is to expand in Cleveland or abandon it.

We'll be lucky if there are any airlines left in five years, if fuel costs keep going up.

 

Does the Cunard White Star Line still exist?

While the facility improvement issue is a bummer, it still looks like CAL is going forward with its operational expansion of CLE irregardless. Although some new destinations have been shelved, like LAN and AZO, I'm assuming Hopkins will still see the increase in mainline flights in 2009 after the RJ expansion this year. Hopefully, PDX and a year-round SAN are on the horizion, maybe even a few Latin American/Carribean destinations on some 737-800's. Who knows? Maybe AMS is still a possiblity although the possibility of a CO/BA/AA alliance makes that less likely.

 

All in all, compared to what's happening to PIT and CVG, I'd say this news isn't really that bad. Although, the customs facilites upgrade is needed when CAL eventually replaces 757's with 787's. That is more than a few years away at this point, though.

 

CAL could start another European destination out of CLE even with the current facility, just make it holiday seasonal as opposed to summer. Or build a temporary FIS facility under wherever NW gives up their gates after the merger.

 

We'll see.

 

those flights that got cancelled were smart.  If they are going to intrude into NW territory, then they needed to have better times and lower fares, which aren't an option so cancelling service was the best thing to do.

 

Will NW ever give up those gates?  that remains to be seen, i would love for them to move to the B or A concourse.

 

i still think we need to come up with funding and improve the facility sooner rather than later.  I flight to Amsterdamn, is badly needed.  I'm surprised we don't have a flight to Dublin. 

We'll be lucky if there are any airlines left in five years, if fuel costs keep going up.

 

Does the Cunard White Star Line still exist?

 

Possible bidders for the ailing US and EU legacy carriers over the next few years?

 

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080430/earns_japan_ana.html?.v=1

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080430/wl_mideast_afp/uaeemiratesaviationcompany_080430151835

those flights that got cancelled were smart.  If they are going to intrude into NW territory, then they needed to have better times and lower fares, which aren't an option so cancelling service was the best thing to do.

 

Will NW ever give up those gates?  that remains to be seen, i would love for them to move to the B or A concourse.

 

i still think we need to come up with funding and improve the facility sooner rather than later.  I flight to Amsterdamn, is badly needed.  I'm surprised we don't have a flight to Dublin. 

 

I agree, MTS. Cleveland is large enough market that it should have year-round London, Paris and Frankfurt and/or Amsterdam. This is even more true now that Pittsburgh has lost all its international service switching from a US Airways hub to a focus city. The only thing holding a real international expansion back is a lack of quality facilites to truly serve widebody aircraft at CLE. I'm hoping that when the 787 comes on line for CAL enough facilities upgrades will be in place to see some larger international expansion.

 

As for the NW gate space, when the merger is complete, either NW's space in C or Delta's space in B is gonna go. There's going to be extra space for something. The whole point of this merger is to reduce service, I would think. That being said, SW may try to take the extra B space. Even still, one could build a corridor in the lower level from the A gates to the B gates for FIS flights I suppose. Kinda like the secure corridors of the B concourse at IAD.

 

Again, we'll see.

I agree.  I think AMS is a better airport to transfer in.

 

To add on to that, Columbus has no international flights and CVG status is up in the air.

Mayor Frank Jackson, 4 others to fly to Paris

Trip to promote city to cost over $14,000 Wednesday, May 14, 2008Henry J. Gomez and Gabriel BairdPlain Dealer Reporters

Cleveland will pay more than $14,000 so five city officials can travel next week aboard Continental Airlines' first nonstop flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to Paris.

 

Mayor Frank Jackson will make the trip with his communications chief Maureen Harper and airport Director Ricky Smith. City Council President Martin J. Sweeney and Councilman Kevin Kelley, who heads council's Aviation and Transportation Committee, will be going too.

 

Harper, said the group will spend its time in Paris marketing the city to French business and political leaders. Continental invited them on the trip, Harper said, to help promote the carrier's new, seasonal service, which will run daily from late May until September.

 

"It's going to be a true public/private partnership to grow this opportunity," Harper said.

 

The inaugural flight leaves Hopkins on Thursday evening, May 22, and will arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport at 7:25 a.m. Paris time the following day. The five city officials are scheduled to return May 26.

 

Here are how the costs, to be paid for out of the city's Port Control budget, break down:

 

$1,032.39 each for five roundtrip coach tickets -- a total of $5,161.95.

 

$581 each night (about 375 Euro) for each of five rooms at the InterContinental Paris-Le Grand hotel -- a three-night total, $8,715. The price includes breakfast on three days and a Friday night dinner reception.

 

Harper said officials reconciled the hotel's cost with its convenience. Officials from the Positively Cleveland tourism bureau and Greater Cleveland Partnership also are staying there.

 

Up to $45 per day for each of the five for meals. Harper said the five city delegates, under Cleveland's travel policy, each can be reimbursed $7 a day for breakfast, $13 a day for lunch and $25 a day for dinner.

 

Sightseeing will be permitted, but not on the public's dime, Harper added.

 

"Cost was a definite factor in our decision," she said. "But we are, as Mayor Jackson says, using self-help.' We're really trying to open Cleveland up to the global marketplace."

 

Sweeney, whose wife will travel with the group, did not return a phone call seeking comment. A council spokeswoman said the council president and his wife will pay for her plane ticket and other expenses.

 

 

 

Foreign trips for business development have become common for mayors in other U.S. cities. For Jackson, it's only his second time out of the country, excluding his service in Vietnam. His first came earlier this year when he traveled to Costa Rica to seal a trade deal.

 

Jackson's counterpart in Columbus, Mayor Michael Coleman, has traveled to China, Germany and, most recently, Israel, said Coleman spokesman Mike Brown.

 

James Brooks, manager of international programs for the National League of Cities, said the trip is exactly the type of work Jackson should be doing to attract business to Cleveland. With the value of the dollar down, he said it is an especially good time to seek opportunities overseas.

 

But David Williams, vice president of policy for the Citizens Against Government Waste watchdog group in Washington, D.C., said such trips often prove to be irresponsible. That's especially so, he said, for government bodies that are facing tough financial times.

 

"When a household is in dire financial straits, they don't take a vacation to Paris," he said.

 

Williams also questioned whether the trip's benefits will outweigh the costs.

 

"It would be shocking to see them justify this on a cost-benefit analysis," he said. "Is the mayor willing to say that if it doesn't pay dividends, he'll pay the money back?"

 

To reach these Plain Dealer reporters:

 

[email protected], 216-999-5405

 

[email protected], 216-999-5833

 

 

OMG does this article p*ss anyone else off?!  I mean come f'in on!  It's this city's second EVER non-stop trans-atlantic flight (albiet for 3.5 months) and the first and last sentences of the article reek of the typical pd/cleveland cynicism and skepticism that we are all sick of!  Based on what's happened to airports in mid-sized markets like CLE in the past 5 years, you'd think we'd be thrilled to see our airline add service-especially overseas!  I can't believe they included that crap from Mr. Williams--really, I think that the non-stop service to CDG will do more good for NEO than the "harm" of Cleveland spending $14,000. 

 

Why is this article mainly about how much $ this will cost the city and not the benefits of having non-stop access to one of the world's busiest and most diverse airport/city?  Let's not talk about how this make Cleveland one layover away to anywhere in the world--even more so than JFK/EWR.  God forbid we look at this as a stepping stone to even more intl flights and greater involvement in the intl business community.  This is one of the most important things to happen to CLE and the city in a very long time and it's a shame so little fanfare is being made!  I remember when I was younger, there were commercials on tv promoting Continentals LGW service from CLE.  Now I guess they need to spend more $$ on fuel and what not but I can't believe there isn't more being done to promote this service.  There are dozens of Continental billboards around the city and not one has this posted. 

 

I'm sorry if this sounds whiny but I'm very upset with the way in which the pd "promoted"  :roll: this service.

AH!  :whip:

Yeah, it's ridiculous. You should see the comments on cleveland.com. Man, I so wish they would get rid of that feature. The vast majority of the comments must be written by monkeys.

 

Actually, that might be an insult to monkeys.

 

The thing that pisses me off most about the PD is that it so constantly editorializes in its articles. Stop SLANTING YOUR NEWS A CERTAIN WAY. Just flipping report it! 

CLE2032, I couldn't agree more.  I loathe EWR and JFK.

 

Continental did a survey and most people rated cleveland well as an airport but wanted more NON STOP options as they would prefer to depart from Cleveland than Newark because after 8/8:30 AM Newarks is a downright delayed mess.  The customer service is non existent.

 

However, we wont see real changes until we get a true customs and immigration facility.

I agree MTS.

 

My concern/disgust, however, is with the way the PD portrayed this flight--actually they didn't.  They found it necessary to point out that Jackson's croissants are free and that Superior/E80th residents can't afford to fly to Paris.  That's it!  Columbus, Indy, Pitt, etc would die for this service and our paper is out to make this flight fail so Jackson and the Port Authority can be scrutinized for wasting $14,000.  Personally, if Jackson wasn't going, I'd be p*ssed!  Too bad Strickland can't get over there-at least with the Cleveland crew as this is great news for Ohio!

$14K! That's laughable. Hell, I know people that have spent $14K just to fly one person to Tokyo-Narita.

 

If that were ex-DC mayor-for-life Marion Barry....it'd been $114K. I don't believe than man or his entourage ever flew coach either.

 

The PD folks are morons. The Mayor and his staff deserve kudos for making this flight possible when many said it wouldn't happen (including myself).

^Frankly, it's laughable (and laudable at the same time) that he's flying coach.  That should be the story -- "Frank Jackson makes historic trip to France and keeps costs down as much as possible by flying coach.  10 out of 14 other big city mayors surveyed do not routinely commit to flying coach on trans-atlantic flights...blah blah...yada yada..."

I agree MTS.

 

My concern/disgust, however, is with the way the PD portrayed this flight--actually they didn't.  They found it necessary to point out that Jackson's croissants are free and that Superior/E80th residents can't afford to fly to Paris.  That's it!  Columbus, Indy, Pitt, etc would die for this service and our paper is out to make this flight fail so Jackson and the Port Authority can be scrutinized for wasting $14,000.  Personally, if Jackson wasn't going, I'd be p*ssed!  Too bad Strickland can't get over there-at least with the Cleveland crew as this is great news for Ohio!

 

We'll the missinformed are complaining but note:

• This is coming out of the Port Control (ie the airports budget) the airport does not run on a city budget, so no money is coming out of the city's general fund.
  
• If the Mayor didn't go, it would a snub to the Parisian Mayor and any other officials and to the Continental folks.
  

 

The people in the region don't realise that this is good for all of NE Ohio.  The one shining thing in the article is, only Cleveland officials are going, no suburban or outer county mayors.  :-D

 

$14K! That's laughable. Hell, I know people that have spent $14K just to fly one person to Tokyo-Narita.

 

If that were ex-DC mayor-for-life Marion Barry....it'd been $114K. I don't believe than man or his entourage never flew coach either.

 

The PD folks are morons. The Mayor and his staff deserve kudos for making this flight possible when many said it wouldn't happen (including myself).

I just checked with my assistant and my plane ticket to Paris was $11k, so this is chump change, since this is a group and they are in economy.

 

And they are traveling on Business so why not have them stay at a nice hotel, I'm sure the city of Cleveland has preferred vendor and negotiated rates available.

^Frankly, it's laughable (and laudable at the same time) that he's flying coach.  That should be the story -- "Frank Jackson makes historic trip to France and keeps costs down as much as possible by flying coach.  10 out of 14 other big city mayors surveyed do not routinely commit to flying coach on trans-atlantic flights...blah blah...yada yada..."

Actually, in the era of corporate and pubic mistrust, the idea of a public servant flying in First would be something to make the masses upset.  Now if he bought a coach ticket and upgraded (and we know how hard that is to do on a Continental International Flight) I would not have a problem with that.

 

after flying to mumbai, 7.5 hrs to paris is nothing!

The article itself has that small town or 'burb, cranky old person, "Only smart people shop at Dollar General" kinda feel. That's a shame for a paper with a fairly large circulation serving an area of 2+ million people.

 

Well, the PD is gonna earn their Pulitzer this year with that crack staff! :lol:

after flying to mumbai, 7.5 hrs to paris is nothing!

OUCH!  I feel you.  Cleveland to Hawaii hurts also!

after flying to mumbai, 7.5 hrs to paris is nothing!

 

Cle, how long was it?

 

I did IAD-PEK, that was 14 going and 13 coming back. I can't imagine having to transfer after that flight.

The article itself has that small town or 'burb, cranky old person, "Only smart people shop at Dollar General" kinda feel. That's a shame for a paper with a fairly large circulation serving an area of 2+ million people.

 

I agree, it assumes that most of it's readers are going to find that sum an exoribitant amount of money.  It's an insult to the intelligence of the readers.

 

I emailed the writers and copied the head of the editorial department Susan Goldberg. 

^Susan e-mailed me back right away and agreed with me that the article was a cheap shot.

 

She also mentioned that on Sunday there will be a large story about the benefits of this service.

^Susan e-mailed me back right away and agreed with me that the article was a cheap shot.

 

She also mentioned that on Sunday there will be a large story about the benefits of this service.

thank you!  Off topic, but if she can't manage her editors, why is she there?  Someone had to approve that for publication!  What a load of crap!

I also wrote to the two reporters expressing my displeasure with the article.  Basically they said they were just reporting the facts.  This article was not supposed to be about the benefits of the new service--previous articles have addressed that.  They said it wasn't their job to celebrate the service, only give facts.  Not reporting the finances of this trip would have prompted more than 1/2-or so they say-of their readers to complain.  Nice assumption on their part!

 

Nonetheless, I am very disappointed in the fluff used to surround the facts and the composition of the article as the same facts could have been stated in a more positive light.

 

Oh, and I brought up the India trip a few posts earlier just to make Jackson's coach flight not as bad!  :wink:  Anyways, It was 17hrs ORD-MUM on Air India but we had to pick up some passengers in FRA which was exactly the 1/2 way point-they let us off for about 45 minutes which was nice so it wasn't technically 17hrs n/s...

A press release.....

 

 

AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,

BAA Cleveland Appoint Key Team Members

– Retail Operations Manager, Administrative Assistant Both Have Cleveland Roots – 

 

CLEVELAND, May 15, 2008 – BAA Cleveland, the newly appointed master developer of retail, food and beverage concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), is pleased to announce the appointment of key team members for the soon-to-be-constructed AIRMALL® at CLE:

 

·        Michael Wish has been appointed the retail operations manager for BAA Cleveland.  In his new role, Michael will be responsible for overseeing the retail operations at the AIRMALL® at CLE.  Prior to joining BAA Cleveland, Michael served as district manager for Family Video Movie Club and as an educational aide with the North Royalton School District.  A Cleveland native, Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH.

 

·        Heidi Ann Slavik will serve as administrative assistant for BAA Cleveland.  Her duties will include administrative support, office management and clerical assistance.  Heidi held previous administrative positions at Tristar Enterprises, Ralston Purina Company and General Motors Corporation.

 

“BAA Cleveland is pleased to welcome these two highly qualified individuals to a dynamic team that will develop and manage the new AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,” said Mark Knight, president of BAA Cleveland. 

 

For more information about BAA Cleveland, visit www.baausa.com or www.airmall.com.

 

About BAA Cleveland

 

BAA Cleveland, Inc. is the developer and manager of the retail and concessions program at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).  In 2008, BAA entered into a ten-year contract with the City of Cleveland to transform the retail, food and beverage concessions into the AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, a strategic combination of well-known national brands and high-quality local concepts offered at “Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed.”  BAA Cleveland is a project of BAA USA, the master developer and manager of the retail, food and beverage operations at the AIRMALLs® at Pittsburgh International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and Boston Logan International Airport (Terminals B and E).  BAA USA is an affiliate of BAA Limited, the world’s leading airport company, which owns and operates seven UK airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow).  For more information, visit www.airmall.com or www.baausa.com.

Michael Wish has been appointed the retail operations manager for BAA Cleveland.  In his new role, Michael will be responsible for overseeing the retail operations at the AIRMALL® at CLE.  Prior to joining BAA Cleveland, Michael served as district manager for Family Video Movie Club and as an educational aide with the North Royalton School District.

 

I don't mean to judge, but is this really the best we could get to manage what will be the most important improvement in Hopkins for years?

 

Also, can anyone post the article about the Airmall that was in Crains this week?

Michael Wish has been appointed the retail operations manager for BAA Cleveland.  In his new role, Michael will be responsible for overseeing the retail operations at the AIRMALL® at CLE.  Prior to joining BAA Cleveland, Michael served as district manager for Family Video Movie Club and as an educational aide with the North Royalton School District.

 

I don't mean to judge, but is this really the best we could get to manage what will be the most important improvement in Hopkins for years?

 

Also, can anyone post the article about the Airmall that was in Crains this week?

 

Does that article say what the job requirements are.  That "snippet" does not tell the whole story, so lets reserve judgement.

Aboard the first Cleveland-to-Paris flight

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/travel/2008/05/aboard_the_first_clevelandtopa.html]

 

Posted by Susan Glaser May 23, 2008 16:57PM

Categories: Business Impact, News impact

Joshua Gunter/The Plain Deaelr

 

The first passengers on Continental Airlines flight 134 celebrated the new nonstop route to France like any good Parisian would: with a chilled glass of bubbly.

My source informated me the flight went out and there was only one BF seat empty and 4/5 open economy seats.

 

I can't wait to see how popular this flight is.  Nobody in their right mind wants to transfer at Newark.  If your connect to a international flight from a domestic flight 8/10 times you'll miss your connection because your flight is delayed into Newark.

 

Ad more TATL flights in Cleveland please!

OMG, I just realized what TATL stands for! 

 

Anyways, I think next time I'm at CLE, i'm going to book the flight around 5 just to hear announcements in the councourse in French! Well, they better have French/English announcements like other airports!

Information from Rick Smith in regard to the Continental and United announcements.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/06/Talking%20Points%20for%20Continental%20Press%20Conference.pdf

 

I scanned a couple of pages back and couldn't find any info. What is the status of Continental's expansion at CLE with the recent events announced by Continental?

 

I see the PDF above says it's "unclear" how it will impact CLE but I'm talking about the expansion itself and not the existing operations. My guess is that it will be (or has been) taken off of the table.

They said something a month or so ago that they were scaling it back.