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Issue link: http://airportbusiness.epubxp.com/i/140389
COVERSTORY Power bar seating and WiFi lets passengers recharge and use personal electronic devices before a flight. GRAB A SEAT Three seating arrangements were selected for the space: Traditional linear seating, where every other seat in the row has power; cluster seating, where three seats are arranged back to back with a small "end table" in between, and every seat has power; and a power bar arrangement. "Overall approximately 50 percent of the seats [in the new terminal] are powered," says Martin Sharp, international manager, North and South America, Zoeftig, the firm that supplied the seating for this terminal. "The industry has caught on that power is desired and that it's time to get away from rows and rows of linear seats. Humans don't like sitting next to other humans they don't know," he explains. "People will naturally sit in every other seat; cluster seating increases the seating available because all of the seats are being used." Airlines investment in Terminal Because customers B supported more than 300 said access to plugs local construction jobs. and WiFi was important, WiFi access is free of the and available throughconstruction out the terminal and 50 jobs were given to minority and disadvantaged businesses. restaurants that offer variations on Texas flavors, along with established airport concession brands that are already popular with customers." Houston Chef Bryan Caswell's 3rd Bar Oyster & Eating House and Chef Johnny Hernandez' The Fruiteria lead the dining options, which are rounded out with Texas icon Whataburger, Bullrito's fresh Tex-Mex, and Barcuterie's cured meats and classic cheeses. Familiar favorites such as the Fresh Gourmet Marketplace and Starbucks also can be found. "We felt it was important to balance the local flavor and give people a little taste of Houston as they pass through the airport," Gebo says. FUN FACTS ABOUT THE PROJECT UNITED 31 PERCENT 45 PERCENT of Terminal B south concourse concessions are owned and managed by minorities. THE 12 new terminal will accommodate regional aircraft with up to 76 seats. airportbusiness June/July 2013 percent of the seats offer plug-ins for wireless devices. These amenities also benefit the airport itself, says Diaz. Passengers must create an account with the airport when they sign into the system and provide basic information such as name, address and email. The airport plans to use that database to drive a frequent flyer program that offers discounts on parking, concessions and VIP lounges. The system will also gather information from customers on the good, the bad and the ugly of airport operations, which will allow the airport to fine-tune operations, promote positive experiences and mitigate negative ones. United incorporated a new gate layout and boarding lane design in the terminal to improve boarding times and reduce crowding. The area incorporates a new pier construction which to envision, Stephanie Buchanan, vice president IAH Hub, United Airlines, says to hold up the palm of your hand and three fingers. The palm, she says, is the main concourse area where hold room seating and concessions are located, while each finger is a pier, and each pier has 10 gates. At the mouth of the pier is a boarding door and that's where passengers pass though with their boarding pass. They then take an escalator down and follow signage to board their flight. "This is more like a central boarding area, almost like a train station," she says. "There are boarding doors where customers go down to the three 'fingers' where the gates actually are." With this design, passengers spend more time in the pleasing hold room area and United is able to be more flexible with its aircraft gating and staffing. All of these features add up to a project that meets the airport's and airline's objectives for terminal design, and one that passengers will likely give high marks to as they pass through. "Passengers spend as much time in the airport as they do on a flight," says Gebo. "With this project, we found ways to give some of their time back to them."