UPFRONT
AIRPORT TERMINAL DESIGNS AS ART. BY CHARLES COHAN, COURTESY OF CURATOR’S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C.
SW Florida Approves Commercial Development The Lee County (Fla.) Port Authority has approved the first commercial development of non-aviation property at the Skyplex Commercial Center at Southwest Florida International. The agreement with Gulf Coast Technology Center provides for development of Phase 1 of the Madden Research Loop, the first of several properties to be developed in public/private partnership on a 750-acre site on the north side of airport property. The developer is a subsidiary of the John Madden Co. The Madden Research Loop is being developed as a bioscience and technology research complex. Groundbreaking for the first building tentatively is scheduled for the third quarter of this year. All of the office space within Phase 1 will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. “The development of the Skyplex Commercial Center will add
considerable economic benefits to Southwest Florida,” stated Robert Ball, A.A.E., executive director of the port authority. “The convenient road access between the development site and the airport, our Foreign Trade Zone designation, and the overall appeal of living in southwest Florida make this a very attractive location for businesses planning to expand or relocate.”
Boston Logan Institutes Air Service Incentives The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has unveiled a financial incentive program to attract more international airline service to Boston Logan International. The program, which applies to new, nonstop international service to destinations in Asia — including China and India — Central America, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Mexico City, involves landing fee credits and joint advertising opportunities. The program takes effect July 1,
2008, runs through June 30, 2011, and is offered to all scheduled passenger air carriers. To participate in the program, carriers must agree to provide a minimum of one year of continuous service with at least three weekly nonstop flights. The program provides a landing fee credit of 75 percent for the first year and 25 percent in year two. Massport CEO and Executive Director Thomas Kinton Jr. noted that nonstop flights to Asia frequently are cited as the premier service target among the Boston area’s business, academic and tourism communities. He underscored that the new incentive program isn’t intended to subsidize a service that likely won’t be self-sufficient, but is aimed at improving utilization of Boston Logan’s international Terminal E, since flights linked to Asia, Latin America and the Middle East would operate during off-peak hours. Kinton told Airport Magazine that he expects the program will cost Massport up to $2 million in the first year, based on one to three carriers participating. The program
AIRPORTMAGAZINE.NET | APRIL/MAY 2008
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