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$21.7 MILLION IN UPGRADES UNDERWAY AT LAMBERT-ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Meeting attendees, business and leisure travelers arriving at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport will enjoy the benefits of $21.7 million-worth of improvements at the Gateway City's main airline terminal. American Airlines and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport's are spending $21.7 million to make the airport experience more convenient with improvements to the American Airlines and AmericanConnection terminals and expansion of the B and C-D security checkpoints.
"American Airlines is investing $14.6 million in our newest hub, St. Louis," said Mike Gunn, executive vice president - Marketing and Planning for American Airlines. "This investment shows a long-term commitment to the community, our customers, and our St. Louis employees, and it underscores our commitment to the St. Louis hub."
"Our customers have told us they are looking for more choices in restaurants and a more convenient and comfortable airport experience," added Robert Cordes, vice president of the American Airlines St. Louis hub. "Part of American Airlines' commitment to the St. Louis hub includes bringing the latest airport amenities there."
"American's decision to invest in St. Louis reflects its commitment to our community," said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. "These changes - everything from new restaurants to the new information monitors - will help make this a better, more attractive, more convenient airport."
The airline will add eight counter positions on the north ticket counter for a total of 30 positions. American has already added eight Self-Service Check-In machines on the south ticket counter, for a total of 20 self check-in positions that fill the entire south side of the ticket counter area.
American will add regional jet-sized loading bridges on the B concourse where AmericanConnection currently operates, and on the D concourse where the AmericanConnection carriers will begin operations as they take delivery of new regional jets. AmericanConnection customers currently must board by stairs from the ramp.
American also will install a pre-conditioned air system that will cool aircraft and loading bridges in the summer and heat them in the winter.
Also, American will install at its gates closed circuit television (CCTV) that will be connected to monitors in the American Airlines tower. CCTV allows tower personnel to more easily view the airline operations and monitor the movement of aircraft.
American Airlines will update the gate counters and backscreens to the darker gray American Airlines image introduced in the 1990s. The gate counters will have stainless steel on the front and granite tops. The airline will also replace carpeting in the gate areas and on the loading bridges.
Construction has already begun on expansion of the B concourse security checkpoint from one to two security lanes. Lambert will also expand the C-D security checkpoint, from the current five lanes to seven.
American Airlines will move certain offices so that the airport can bring in new concessions such as Sbarro, Starbucks, a Jose Cuervo restaurant, a Home Turf bar, and a Great Steak and Potatoes restaurant.
Lambert will install new Flight Information Display (FID) monitors on the B, C, and D concourses. These new monitors will list American Airlines' flights and times, replacing aging monitors that often were difficult to read.
Once the new FID monitors are in place, the airport will install Gate Information Display (GID) monitors and Ramp Information Display (RIDs) on the concourses. GID monitors inform passengers of what flight is operating at that gate, the expected time of departure, and other information pertinent to that flight. RIDs monitors display similar information on the ramp side of the gate for fleet service clerks and other employees.
The airport will also construct a connector between the C and D concourses to relieve congestion behind the C-D security checkpoint. Finally, the airport will install new carpeting along the concourse corridors.
American Airlines and its regional affiliate, AmericanConnection, today offer 473 daily departures to more than 100 cities from St. Louis, making Lambert-St. Louis International Airport AA's third largest hub by daily flights. From St. Louis, American also provides daily nonstop international service from St. Louis to four cities outside the U.S. - London (Gatwick); San Juan, PR; and, Vancouver and Toronto, Canada. Dozens of other cities throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean are an easy connection away from St. Louis.
American Airlines is the world's largest carrier. American, in concert with American Eagle and the AmericanConnection regional carriers, makes up the American Airlines network. Together, they serve more than 250 cities in 41 countries and territories with approximately 4,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,100 aircraft.
For additional information about St. Louis' airport improvements or complete airline service, contact the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or www.explorestlouis.com.
MEDIA NOTE: For more information or photography of St. Louis, send an e-mail to pr@explorestlouis.com or call Becky Sharp at 1-314-992-0652. For up-to-date information about St. Louis, your readers should call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040 or check out our website at www.explorestlouis.com. This news release is also available in electronic form. To obtain an electronic version, e-mail your request to pr@explorestlouis.com or go to St. Louis’ online media center at www.explorestlouis.com/media.
