Let’s move on to the regular airport news from this week now though: Newark airport in New Jersey (IATA: EWR) made it twice into the headlines this week: First, on Tuesday, the New York Post wrote that a burgeoning federal probe into allegedly lax security at Newark Airport has led to the suspension of eight workers for everything from stealing from passengers to sleeping on the job to even failing to screen luggage for potential bombs. Wow, that’s quite something, we think!

Then one day later, on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported on its online news that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said an airline employee had caused a security breach that briefly closed a terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport. Not so nice either!

Over in Europe it’s the winter that’s causing disruptions. In the United Kingdom for example, SKY News reported today that a number of airports across Britain have been closed as heavy snow blankets runways and surrounding areas. According to the news, Luton (IATA: LTN), Stansted (IATA: STN) and Birmingham (IATA: BHX) are most severly affected. The news continued by saying that passengers at Gatwick airport (IATA: LGW) were warned of possible delays, while Heathrow airport (IATA: LHR) has made a pre-emptive decision to cancel around a third of today’s flights. We advise all UK bound travellers to check their flight status frequently.

Speaking of the UK, earlier in the week BAA got a slap on the wrist when it lost its appeal against a ruling that it must sell Stansted airport (IATA: STN). According to the BBC, the Spanish-owned company BAA will be unhappy about having to sell Stansted in such an unfavourable economic climate. The company sold Gatwick and recently agreed to sell Edinburgh, but it has continued to fight the Stansted decision.

Back to the United States where on Sunday (local time) the biggest sporting event is held: the Super Bowl. This year the mother of all events is held in Indianapolis and we wouldn’t be LateDeparture if we couldn’t find a matching airport related news article: Fox News reported that the nation’s wealthiest football fans are descending in droves on Indianapolis Airport (IATA: IND) for Sunday’s Super Bowl, setting off a scramble by airport officials in this modest Midwest hub to accommodate the influx of private jets. According to the article, about 1,100 private planes are expected to ferry in corporate chieftains and other bigwigs to see the New York Giants face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. That is one of the largest fleets of luxury planes in the Super Bowl’s history, flying into one of the smallest cities to ever host the game.

That said, let’s move to our weekly news review: First, one country was quite brutally battered this week with harsh winter conditions when on Thursday Msnbc.com reported that after a major Pacific storm covered Washington state in snow, the Seattle area dealt with a new menace: an ice storm that shut down the airport and toppled trees. The report continued by saying that Seattle Tacoma International Airport (IATA: SEA) closed early Thursday so that its three runways could be de-iced. Two runways had reopened by midday, but many airlines reported flight cancellations.

Across the country the situation wasn’t looking much better as a storm blanketed the northeast with a few inches of snow and caused havoc on the road and delays for travellers as a result. The Associated Press reported that by midafternoon on Saturday, 4.3 inches (11 cm) of snow had fallen in New York Central Park and 3.4 inches (8.5 cm) at LaGuardia Airport in New York (IATA: LGA) . Most of eastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, and central New Jersey saw about 4 inches (10 cm)  of snow, with a few places reporting up to 8 inches (20 cm). All these measures say one thing to the trained traveller’s eye: travel delays and flight cancellations. So make sure you check your flight status if you are travelling within that region!

Across the pond in England two stories stood out from the rest this week. The first one comes from Luton Airport (IATA: LTN), north of London where the BBC reported of the airports expansion plans. According to the article the airport plans to almost double the number of passengers it handles, a move which it says could create as many as 6,000 new jobs. Further the article read that this dramatic announcement is a bold attempt by local politicians in the town, who own the airport, to create jobs and boost the economy.

Then one of our favourite topics of recent times got more news real-estate this week: the BBC wrote that the government is to hold a formal consultation on UK aviation – including controversial plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary. Apparently the study is to begin in March and will look at options for “maintaining the UK’s aviation hub status”. The article then continues by arguing the various political views of the project: Downing Street said no decisions had been made – London Mayor Boris Johnson backs the Thames airport idea. David Cameron has ruled out expanding Heathrow but his deputy Nick Clegg is said to be opposed to the estuary idea. Labour said the coalition was in a “complete mess” over aviation policy. Our bet is, this topic will be with us for a while.

And now – finally – to our bonus story: according to an article from the Detroit Free Pressa a retired bomb-sniffing dog  was captured after an airport escape. Apparently the dog named Arco had arrived on a flight from Arizona to be united with a new owner and got loose when that owner let the dog out to relieve himself. Arco once even worked at the White House as a bomb-sniffing dog at one time, bit two officers when they spotted him near Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (IATA: DTW) around 5:30 a.m. Two hours later they finally captured him.

Wow, sooo much action – we need a break. Read you later in the week with our feature post and in one week with our next weekly news. Safe travels everyone!

[Photo from Flickr - Some rights reserved by yum9me]

Wednesday seemed anyway to have been the “black” day of US aviation last week as there was another massive incident that day: At Washington’s Reagan National Airport (IATA: DCA) an air traffic supervisor dozed off in the control tower early Wednesday, forcing passenger plane pilots to land on their own. He was drug-tested by federal authorities before being suspended from his job, federal officials said to the Washington Post. On Friday the same newspaper wrote that the incident triggered the FAA to revise U.S. air traffic control rules. “Effective immediately, we are instituting an interim plan to ensure we do not repeat another situation like the one at Reagan National Airport Wednesday morning,” Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt said in the article.

On Tuesday it was reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (IATA: ATL) say they’ve foiled a destructive beetle from entering the country, where it could have done massive damage to crops. The khapra beetle was found in the luggage of two passengers arriving from India.

And finally, Saturday saw the fourth installation of Earth Hour, a global event organized by WWF asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Many of the world’s airports also participated by shutting down non-essential lights. Google news lists London Luton (IATA: LTN), Singapore Changi (IATA: SIN), Stockholm Skavsta (IATA: NYO), Budapest (IATA: BUD) and Abu Dhabi airport (IATA: AUH) among others to have participated.

[Photo from Flickr - Some rights reserved by MNicoleM]

With the “must have” M&S and WH Smith to scoop up your trashy mag & bottle of water, the concourse also offers variety of food options including snacks and a full bar from the open style, spacious Cafe Bar.

You’ll also find Bar Des Voyageurs, a beautiful Parisian style bar offering a selection of hot and cold snacks and a choice of wines from around the world.

Once checked in, take a simple flight of escalators to level 2, straight through security and voila, you have entered the international gateway!

Here you will find the typical homage to capitalism, but after wading through duty free shops & alike (some l might add have amazing bargains) you are greeted by the golden sun streaming through the massive windows.

For those sceptics: On the other 364 days of the year you are still greeted by an abundance of wonderful light . This is truly an underestimated advantage to any flight where you might be suffering the dreaded late departure… natural light.

So, you have now entered the perfectly positioned open/free flowing bar Est … offering freshly prepared cocktails, juice combinations, Italian coffee and a delicious selection of antipasti platters.

Opposite is the cosy sister restaurant, Est … where you have a full menu to choose from including freshly made pizza, pasta, focaccia, salads and more.

A helpful Amusement Arcade called “Game Grid” is also positioned directly opposite: fun for all the family! Drop the kids off & watch them whilst sipping a glass of Chardy!
Once called for your flight you wind through a rabbit warren walkway of fibro but you will get there in the end.

Let’s Talk Arriving in Luton…
As above, your friends and family can chose to pay £1 to greet you at the virtual door OR you can jump on a bus. Although travel time is only 2 minutes down the road to the “free section”, who can be bothered after a long flight? Mmmm.

Top 3 adventures in Luton International Airport:

1. The attractive open Bar Cafe smack-bang in the middle of the check in/entrance area lends itself to a payback drink with your friend who just lost £1 by dropping you off.
2. Indulge your retro pacman fantasies in the amusement arcade, Game Grid.
3. Watch the chefs carve your roast or take out the freshly baked bread from the exposed ovens at The Real Food Company. Fresh fruit is on display so why not choose your own smoothie! (A new children’s play area has just opened too!)

Airport Name	London Luton Airport
Website	http://www.london-luton.co.uk
IATA Code	LTN
Design	.5 (points for super functional layout)
Shopping
Toilets
Overall

[Picture from Flickr - some rights reserved]