USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 20, No. 51
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
PEN SACOL A INT E R N AT I O NAL AIR PO R T INT R OD U C E S NEW NON- STOP FLIGHT At the onset of the global health crisis, industries across the globe began ceasing operations to reexamine safe business practices. In the airline industry, international travel bans were initiated, leisure travel came to a halt and airports quickly turned into ghost towns utilized only for postal cargo shipments and essential travel. When stay at home orders were first implemented, airports including Pensacola International Airport (PNS) witnessed a 92 percent drop in passenger count. Despite the closures and constant changes following CDC guidelines, the Pensacola International Airport has remained above the national averages for the airline industry across America experiencing only a 30 percent drop in last year’s numbers while the national average sits around a 60 percent decrease. Lewis Garvin, the market- cluding enforcing the lo- We just want our guests to ing director for PNS, ac- cal mask mandate and know that we have done credits those numbers to providing hand sanitizer everything on our part to implemented safety mea- to all guests. Masks are keep them safe while travsures, socially distanced to be worn inside the air- eling with us,” Garvin exbeach vacations and fast- port, at all boarding gates plained. acting local government. and during flights unless While implementing “It’s a huge testament to eating or drinking. The new safety measures, what is going on in Pen- airport even purchased PNS has also been worksacola not ing to bring only to the new flight and We just want our guests vacation clidestination mate but also opportunities to know that we have to the busito Pensacola. done everything on ness climate In Decemand how our our part to keep them safe ber, PNS is area is growlaunching a while traveling with us.” ing and thrivnew non-stop ing with the flight to Dulldecisions that are being a unique hand sanitizer es International Airport made by our local leader- called microSURE that is (IAD) located on the outship,” Garvin explained. Benzalkonium Chloride- skirts of Washington, DC. “We had an initial push- based instead of alcohol- The new service back to close the airport, based and lasts up to eight will begin on but we had to stay open hours after application. Dec. 17, 2020 unless the FAA said oth- They have also increased through Jan. erwise. Our 20 travel des- the frequency of cleaning 4, 2021. From tinations dropped down to crews within the airport Jan. 5, 2021 to eight destinations. Some utilizing an electrostatic March 3, 2021, days there were only four sanitizing method as well the flight will flights running when as sanitizing the airplane change to Saturat our peak season you cabins between flights. day and Sunday could see upwards of 80 “Traveling during CO- Service and then flights a day.” VID is a personal deci- back to daily serPNS has implemented sion, and we respect and vice until the end several safety measures understand the decision of March. to protect passengers in- to abstain from traveling. “Non-stop
“
December 16, 2020
1 Section, 8 Pages
by Dakota Parks
flights are crucial to keeping an airport competitive, helping lower the cost of flights for travelers and increasing connections to other destinations,” Garvin explained. “We already had a direct flight to Washington, DC through American Airlines to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, but this allows us to open up more flights and bring more opportunity to Pensacola too. We want to see a lot of people come to Pensacola and enjoy our beaches, our culture and experience what Pensacola has to offer. Dulles is a great hub for international travel as well, so once international travel opens back up, we have positioned ourselves with a great new connection.” Garvin also explained that Dulles is a crucial location to meet increasing demand for flights to Washington, DC and helps connect Pensacola
WE'RE SOCIAL!
to the Navy Federal Credit Union headquarters in Vienna, Virginia. As we approach the holiday season, PNS is closely anticipating increases in travel and working to ensure that the airport is prepared and maintains its social distanced protocol. Part of that preparation is tracking surveys conducted that estimate 60 percent of normal holiday travelers anticipate traveling while 30-40 of normal holiday travelers are opting not to travel this season. “We are going to continue enforcing masks, keeping seats and lines spaced out by six feet and cleaning the airport and cabins to ensure that we are a safe and easy place to travel. We are constantly aiming to create the best air travel experience on the Gulf Coast,” Garvin said.
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA