In a continuing effort to improve airport access, the Port Authority has introduced valet parking at John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of many initiatives announced earlier this year as part of a $34 million program to enhance customer care and services at the agency’s airports. The valet parking service, which began this week, will be located adjacent to the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain JFK Station and will be available around the clock, seven days a week. Customers can simply drop off vehicles and get free AirTrain JFK rail service to their passenger terminal. The cost is $36 per day, plus $18 for every additional 12-hour period thereafter.

Bank Leumi Business Center provides travelers the convenience of four computer terminals and 10 wireless Internet connection ports, allowing premium class passengers to easily and efficiently complete any remaining business before departing for Israel. In addition to the lounge at JFK, EL AL has partnered with Bank Leumi in sponsoring three other Business Centers, located in Paris, London and Israel.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last week intercepted a miniature horse manifested as a passenger’s “pet.” CBP agriculture specialists were performing a routine examination of a passenger’s pet when they discovered the miniature horse enclosed in a large dog carrier. The owner of the horse was in transit to Guatemala and was not in possession of proper

permits. A Department of Agriculture veterinary medical officer examined the animal and for bio-security reasons, the horse remained overnight under CBP/APL custody in the agriculture laboratory and the carrier disinfected with Virkon, which will kill many diseases. The little filly appeared to be healthy, with no indication of African horse sickness. The agriculture specialists were also concerned about horse-to-human diseases that do occur in Germany, such as morbillivirus, West Nile and ehrlichiosis bacteria, to name a few.

The US government has taken the first step toward possibly limiting flights as early as next summer at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the busiest and one of the worst for delays and congestion. The Federal Aviation Administration has taken the rare early step of asking major carriers for their JFK scheduling information for next spring and summer, according to a regulatory notice obtained by Reuters. A similar request also was sent to airlines at New Jersey’s Newark Airport, another location hit hard by delays this year. Airlines must respond to both requests by October 11. The FAA only reviews schedule information this far in advance at a handful of airports nationally, and only controls flight operations at two, New York LaGuardia and Chicago O’Hare. The FAA said in its notice to airlines: “This could result in operational limits during peak hours.” JetBlue Airways is based at JFK and Delta Air Lines operates two terminals there. In a statement, JetBlue said it supported FAA efforts aimed at “getting ahead of congestion” and encouraged the agency to immediately convene a meeting of airlines to discuss scheduling.

This month, I will be wearing a pink ribbon as I do my job at JFK’s Terminal 4. October is the awareness month for fighting breast cancer and a pink ribbon is a reminder to us all that we still have a long way to go in defeating this disease. While we have made inroads over the past two decades, breast cancer remains a killer and deformer of women. I was introduced to the words “breast cancer” at the age of twenty three. I was still residing in the country of my birth, Albania; when I learned that a close friend of my family and my colleague, Mira, a young mother with a 10 year old son, was diagnosed with the disease. At that point in my life the term “breast cancer” was still a vague idea to me; but when it hit home to my friend, this vague and distant thought became

reality. This was the first time that I could connect the disease to an actual person. I saw a woman in fear of her life; especially in the beginning when she was not sure what was going on and she could possibly fight it. Mira was very saddened with the news of her disease. As with most of us when we first hear bad news; she was already consigning herself to an end. She was thinking that her young boy could grow up without a mother. But after the initial shock; the will to live kicked-in and Mira did everything she could to fight the disease. With the help and unconditional love of family and friends, and after long treatments and strict diet she was able

to defeat the monster. This story had a happy ending, but for some, the end does not produce a happy result. There is lots of information regarding this disease. If you Google the words “breast cancer” there are more than 60,100,000 electronic pages worth of information, sweet and bitter stories, struggles for survival and hope; not just stories about the patient, but stories about family and friends who support those who suffer through it. There is also valuable information for women; when to take the periodic examinations, how to do self diagnosis and what role family history plays in your risk factors. The moral of the story is simple, do what you need to do; don’t make the rush of life increase your risk. There are many foundations supporting the science researches to overcome the deadly disease. There are hundreds and hundreds of events, movements, fundraisers, pink ribbons, pink airplanes, all directed towards our primary goal; the eradication of this dread disease. Will you join me in wearing a pink ribbon? I hope so.

Continental Airlines Cargo has a new service that couples the carrier’s redeye flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Phoenix or Las Vegas arriving into Newark Liberty International Airport around 6:00 a.m.— with the frequent passenger ferry services of the New York Waterway. With expedited handling of packages from Liberty International Airport, via secured van to the Imperial Terminal at the Hudson River, critical shipments speed across the river and arrive into Midtown Manhattan by 7:40 a.m. and a new, super early air cargo delivery is born. Jack Boisen, Continentals Vice President - Cargo Division is very enthusiastic about a new service concept that Continental is offering their customers – a small package ferry service. “This is the quickest and most reliable

the fastest service available to Continental’s extensive European and domestic network. By using the passenger ferry to move express cargo, Continental is able to avoid the usual traps that impact ground transportation, such as bridges, tunnels, tolls and heavy traffic.

Adele J. Fasano has been selected as U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s area director for the combined ports of New York and Newark (exclusive of John F. Kennedy International Airport), a region that includes two of the nation’s top five international airports, a major seaport and two international mail facilities. Fasano, who previously served as San Diego district director Immigration and Naturalization Service, succeeds in her new position Kathleen Haage-Gaynor, who retired in June. Fasano

began her federal service in 1985 with the Office of Management and Budget in Washington.

JetBlue Airways has appointed its chief operating officer as president to help navigate the board along with Chief Executive Dave Barger’s strategy. COO Russ Chew will “work directly” with Barger to “execute the company’s vision and strategic plan,” according to the company’s statement. Chew joined JetBlue following a tumultuous winter when the airline faced criticism and unhappy customers due to weather delays that canceled more than 1,000 flights. Two months later, amid continued criticism, the

company replaced founder David Neeleman as CEO with Barger. JetBlue’s latest challenge is to tackle low-cost competitor Virgin America, which has opened up shop in several of its U.S. hubs. The Forest Hills, N.Y.-based carrier has faced a lagging share price as several analyst have downgraded its stock on expectations of a difficult operating environment.

Interestingly, Robert DelCarpine/ DHL and Norn Loehr/ FedEx all come from Malverne L.I. and have been in bands together since they were 14/15 yrs old. Now at 50, they’re getting it all back together, and it sounds great!