central focus of our 10-year capital plan, which earmarks about $4 billion for our airports.” Port Authority Executive Director Anthony E. Shorris said, “The best airports in the world get you where you’re going safely and quickly, with dignity and without hassles. That’s our vision for our airports. We're expecting a record 30 million travelers at our airports this summer, and we want them to notice some immediate improvements in the quality of their experience, whether it’s greater visibility of our red-jacketed customer care representatives – we’ve added about 200 more people to assist our airport customers – or brand-new seats in every car in the Air- Train JFK fleet, or dozens of new postsecurity concessions in our airports’ terminals. In the coming months, we'll also introduce a number of long-term enhancements that will provide even more comforts and conveniences for our customers. Today, the Port Authority is beginning a new era of commitment to customer service at our airports.” One of the key initiatives calls for asking customers for their input and feedback, and soliciting their ideas about improving the airports via a dedicated email address: airportcustomerideas@panynj.gov.

Other initiatives include:
• about 200 new customer care representatives – an increase of more than 50 percent over previous staffing levels – to assist travelers throughout the airports: on terminal frontages, at ticket counters, at doorways, in AirTrain stations, in federal inspection facilities, and anywhere else airport customers may need help;
• new welcome centers to replace existing ground transportation counters, staffed by customer care representatives who will provide customers with assistance and information about their trips, including ground access options, hotels and points of interest;
• nearly 5,000 new seats at Newark Airport’s Terminal B and LaGuardia’s Central Terminal Building;
• better and easier access to airport and airline information, including more flight information monitors, free airport alerts for subscribers, PDA-accessible flight status information and schedules, and “next-arriving-train” monitors at Air- Train JFK and AirTrain Newark stations;
• a cell-phone parking lot at JFK where people can park legally and for free while waiting to pick up arriving passengers, who call their rides waiting in the lot when they are ready;
• a new valet parking service at JFK;
• new seats and flooring on the entire Air-Train JFK 32-car fleet;
• the new dedicated e-mail to solicit customer suggestions,
airportcustomerideas@panynj.gov, as well as expansion of the Port Authority’s mystery shopper airport quality assurance teams to monitor and evaluate vendors and other airport employees in order to provide the Port Authority with analysis to make targeted improvements in services;
• expansion of the agency’s award-winning airport signage program; and
• expansion of the Port Authority Customer Care Training program for airport employees that emphasizes attitude, appearance, awareness and knowledge. The Port Authority’s major airports are vital to the regional economy, supporting $57 billion in annual economic activity while generating nearly 500,000 jobs with more than $20 billion in wages. In 2006, the three airports set a record by combining to serve more than 104.1 million passengers. No other airport system in the United States handles as many passengers, and projections call for more than 107 million total air travelers this year.

25th Annual Career Day event at JFK International Airport, Building 208. Nine intermediate schools and thirteen high schools participated with over 800 students in attendance. The theme of this year's event was "The Tuskegee Airmen." We are proud and pleased to report that three locally based Airmen (William Wheeler, Victor Terralonge, and Ed Monroe) were on hand to speak to and inspire students. We presented the Airmen with plaques that included First Edition Tuskegee Airmen Stamps which were donated by the United States Post Office. Students participated in an essay contest whose theme was also, The Tuskegee Airmen. Certificates of Appreciation were given to every essay contest participant. Six winners (three in the high school and three in the intermediate divisions) were chosen and presented with Certificates of Recognition for their accomplishment. The winners also received, courtesy of the JFK Chamber of Commerce, $20.00 gift certificates to Staples. The three schools (Business, Computer Application & Entrepreneurship Magnet High School, I.S. 238 and P.S. 270), from whom the winning essays were chosen, were presented with Recognition Plaques for their students' accomplishments.

With all the clamor about the bad job companies are doing in providing customer service, kudos go to Port Authority for a great idea aimed at making life easier for airport users. JFK Airport will be providing a new option for customers waiting to pick up passengers. On May 25, 2007 at 9:00 a.m., the new Cell Phone Lot opened giving drivers an alternative to circling the Central Terminal Area (CTA) or illegally parking on our roadways. With more than 100 free parking spaces, drivers can wait in the lot until arriving passengers have deplaned, collected their luggage and called to be picked up at the Passenger Pickup Areas in front of each terminal. The Cell Phone Lot is located on 130th Place, in close proximity to the inbound Van Wyck Expressway. Signage on the Airport roadways will direct motorists to and from the lot and the terminal areas. The lot will be only open to non-commercial vehicles, which must be attended at all times. Unattended vehicles will be towed. The maximum allowed waiting time is one hour. The benefits of this new lot in addition to convenience for our customers also include saving gas and making our roadways safer.

On 5/01/07 the Terminal 5 (TWA) "Trumpet" was moved by the Mega Movers from Terminal 5 to the construction area of Terminal 6. At a later date the trumpet which was cut off of Terminal 5 will be re-attached to the new JetBlue Terminal. The trumpet was part of Terminal 5 in the area where passengers would pass thru to get to their gates on side two of the terminal (Gates 41 to 46). It cannot be destroyed because it’s part of the original building which is a national landmark. The move lasted all day. This work was video-taped and will be on the History Channel on Mega Movers at a later date.

On May 24, 2007 During Fleet Week members of the U.S. Navy from the U.S.S. Winston Churchill on a VIP tour of JFK with the Port Authority Police. The photo is a the Fire Academy where the Navy got to ride in the fire trucks and put out fires. They also visited the FAA tower where they watched the U.S.A.F. B-1 Bombers land. The trip was organized by

Robin Steward of PA operation & Lt. Dan Carbonaro PAPD Community Affairs Officer.