August 2008
In This Issue
Chairman Gribbin
Ticket counters
Airline industry
Airport welcomes burners
Quick Links

Reno-Tahoe Int'l Airport
Construction Truths
Archived E-newsletters

New Board Chairman

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Thomas J. Gribbin


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Gribbin takes board helm

The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority has a new Board Chair, Thomas J. Gribbin, who brings more than a decade of experience with the Airport Board of Trustees.

Retired founder of Pyramid Engineers and Land Surveyors, Inc., Chairman Gribbin's relationship with the airport goes back to 1980 when his company began working on airport projects at RTIA. He was appointed to the Airport Board by the City of Reno in 1997.

"I have been on the board now almost 11 years and I truly enjoy working with Krys Bart and the staff," Gribbin said. "Our team is highly qualified and very dedicated. There's a great spirit among the people who work at the airport and you don't find that everyday."

Krys Bart, A.A.E., President/CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority said, "I am very pleased that Tom Gribbin is the new Airport Authority Chairman.  Tom has always been a key supporter of the Airport Authority and he understands the important role the Reno-Tahoe International and Reno-Stead Airports play in this community."

Gribbin's expertise has been an asset in planning a wide range of airport projects. His engineering insight has been utilized extensively on one of Gribbin's favorite programs-the Airport Baggage Check-in Project (ABC).  

"I think the ABC construction has been the largest and most fun project I've worked on with the airport," Gribbin said. "It has been a pleasure to watch such a detailed project come to fruition."

During his airport board chairmanship, Gribbin anticipates working closely with the airport team to overcome the challenges posed by fuel prices and the struggling airline industry.

"The airlines and customers are why we are here," Gribbin said. "They are why we are in business. I think we do a great job taking care of customers and we will do our best with the changing airline industry."

Gribbin also serves as Board Member to the Reno Air Race Association and past member Contest & Records Board of the National Aeronautic Association.

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Thank you for reading and we hope to see you soon at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Sincerely,

Krys Bart Signature

Krys T. Bart, A.A.E.
President & CEO
Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority
Ticket counters have moved

All airline ticket counters at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RTIA) have now been relocated to the Temporary Ticket Lobby to allow for construction of the Airport Baggage Check-in (ABC) Project.

The ABC Project, scheduled for completion in November 2009, will move the large baggage screening machines from the ticket lobby to an area far from the public eye.  The new state-of-the-art baggage screening system will be integrated with new ticket counters and a new lobby that will reflect the Reno-Tahoe region.

JetFuel


This project will improve the way people depart the community by bringing back the one-stop baggage drop. Even during construction, passengers are already enjoying the convenience of checking their bag in with the airline, without having to wait in a separate line for baggage screening.


No local tax dollars are being used to fund this $60 million project. Instead, the ABC is funded by Passenger Facility Charges, or PFCs, which are fees on airline tickets at airports all across the country. Those funds can be used for projects involving safety and security, and that's what the ABC is all about. The Transportation Security Administration has also contributed $12 million for ABC.

During construction, travelers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before their scheduled flight departure.  Signage and customer service staff will help guide passengers to the correct counter locations.

To stay updated and informed about the project, visit
www.ConstructionTruths.com for travel tips, updates, maps, and more.

Expect more turbulence in airline industry

Today's aviation industry is faced with unprecedented financial challenges including unprecedented fuel costs, a weakening economy and a decrease in the demand for travel.

As airline costs and airfares continue to increase, and the amount of people traveling decreases, carriers are forced to reduce the number of flights or available seats. Almost all U.S. carriers have implemented or are considering capacity reductions across the country.

JetFuel

Those reductions are being felt here in Reno-Tahoe. In December 2007, Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RTIA) offered 86 daily commercial departures. To date, the airport has been notified of flight cutbacks that will reduce the number of daily departures to 69 (a 17 percent reduction) by December of 2008. To put this in perspective, in the months after September 11, 2001, daily departures hit a previous low of 73 in Reno.

And RTIA is already feeling the impact in passenger numbers. During the months of April, May, and June, passenger traffic was down more than 12 percent each month compared to the same months last year.

The airport is certainly not alone in experiencing these impacts. Across the West Coast, commercial airports are down as much as 23 percent in the number of flights offered as compared to 2007.

RTIA rebounded from the events of 9/11 by growing from 73 daily departures to a high of 88 last March. But recovery from the current crisis may be more difficult. Airport staff are working diligently and meeting with airline officials to demonstrate the airport's competitive rates and the high demand for air service.

Airport welcomes burners

Reno-Tahoe International Airport will play host to Burning Man's first ever "AirPlayaInfo" satellite information desk.

With an anticipated 15,000 Burning Man attendees traveling through the 60th busiest commercial airport in the country this year, RTIA has set aside a special greeting site to help these Northern Nevada visitors navigate their way to and from the Black Rock Desert.  

AirPlayaInfo will operate in the airport's baggage claim area from Friday, August 22nd through Friday, August 29th during peak travel times.  It will be staffed by volunteers who will be able to provide fellow Burners with a variety of information and resources, including referrals to local "burner- friendly" lodging, transportation to and from the playa, as well as local shopping and supplies.  

With 15,000 fly-in attendees, Burning Man has become the third largest annual event attracting passengers at RTIA. Safari Club International brings in more than 20,000 customers and the Volleyball Festival attracts approximately 17,000.
"The best way in and out of the community is getting even better."