Sunday, November 5, 2006

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall officially completed its five-year, $1.4 billion expansion last week. Since 2001, BWI has added a consolidated rental car facility, a daily garage, a new Southwest Airlines terminal and -- the last bit to be finished -- a $188 million terminal curbside expansion and skywalk system project. . . . Security lanes at Dulles International moved last month; all lanes previously located at the east end of the main terminal are now at the west end, to allow for AeroTrain-related construction. The underground train system is expected to be completed in 2009. . . . Sixteen passenger lounges on the fourth and fifth floors at Los Angeles International's Tom Bradley International Terminal are being demolished as part of the airport's renovation project. First-class and business travelers, however, will have access to two interim lounges for the next seven or eight months while permanent lounges are built. The first-class lounge is currently on the mezzanine level and is meant for up to 133 passengers; the business-class lounge (which can handle 578) is outside the terminal building, accessible by motor coach via Gate 118. . . . Philadelphia International , which has offered high-speed wireless (WiFi) access since 2003, is running a pilot program for free WiFi in the B/C Food Court. (Elsewhere in the airport it's $7.95 for a 24-hour connection.) Free access will continue through the end of the year, after which the airport will assess whether to keep or expand the program.

-- Anne McDonough