Nashville Airport Earns Awards for Concessions and Customer Service

Many elements of Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) recent terminal renovation project, as well as the airport’s ongoing exemplary customer service, garnered top honors from Airport Revenue News, a leading concessions trade publication. BNA earned awards for the Best Concessions Management Team; Airport with the Best Customer Service; and Airport with the Most Unique Services, all in the medium airport division, in the Airport Revenue News’ 2009 Best Airport & Concession Awards.

“These industry awards provide tangible affirmation that our recent terminal upgrades have enhanced the BNA team’s ability to provide the Nashville Airports Experience to our passengers and customers,” said Raul Regalado, president & CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA). “We remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence in providing premier facilities and services to travelers.”

Visit FlyNashville.com to learn more about the Nashville Airport.

Cell Phone/Waiting Area to Temporarily Close During Roadway Project at BNA aka Nashville Airport

Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, the cell phone/waiting area at Nashville International Airport (BNA) will close temporarily due to the ongoing Terminal Access Roadway Improvements Project.
Alternate options for customers who are meeting and waiting for arriving passengers include the short-term parking garage and the 10-minute waiting area on the baggage claim level.

During road construction, BNA encourages travelers and guests to allow extra travel time. All short-term, long-term, and economy parking lots will remain open during the TARI Project. The overflow lot will be open only as needed.

Visit the airport website for more info.

Use Donelson Pike to get into the Nashville Airport

Nashville International Airport (BNA) advises travelers and guests traveling eastbound on I-40 to use Donelson Pike to access the terminal and parking lots as the Terminal Access Roadway Improvements (TARI) Project moves forward. Beginning Monday, November 10, work in the median of the discrete access roadways off of I-40 will begin. These entrances to and from I-40 will remain open at this point; however, BNA encourages customers coming from the west to use Donelson Pike to avoid construction areas.

To learn more about the work being done at the airport visit the FlyNashville website.

Nashville International Airport delays the start of construction

Due to the challenging economic times, bond market instability and increased materials and labor costs, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) is delaying the start of construction on the consolidated rental agency complex (CONRAC). This project includes the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility in the long-term parking lot, north of the existing short-term garage.

This is just a delay, not the cancelation of the project. The MNAA does not yet have an expected date to re-activate the project, but looks forward to doing so in a stronger financial environment.

Visit Fly Nashville to learn more about this project.

A Ghost at the Nashville Airport?

I took the picture using Andrea's camera.

JetBlue is Flying Out of Nashville

JetBlue Airways is pulling out of Nashville, effective January 6.

The law fare air carrier began its service in Music City in August 2006 with nonstop service between Nashville and New York.

The announcement to drop its Nashville flights comes as the carrier generated its first third-quarter profit in two years and capacity and occupancy grew.

Read more about it in the Nashville Business Journal.

Fliers flock to O'Charley's

It is first of local eateries recruited to serve travelers

When her flight out of Nashville was delayed Wednesday, Kathy Kirby passed the usual airport restaurants and grabbed a seat at O'Charley's.

"I was tickled to death when I saw it," said Kirby, of Franklin, whose flight to Minnesota was about two hours late. Over a leisurely lunch of grilled chicken salad, she said, "It's nice to get a family restaurant instead of fast food."

O'Charley's on Friday opened a branch at Nashville International. By next summer, the casual restaurant chain will be joined by several other local favorites such as Whitt's Barbecue, Bongo Java and Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.

The restaurants are part of a $44 million renovation project at the airport. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which approved the project last summer, targeted local businesses for inclusion after a customer survey in 2003 found that people wanted brands they were familiar with at the airport, including local establishments. The restaurants will be phased in as construction progresses over the next two years.

"We are the front door step of Nashville and Middle Tennessee," said Rebecca Ramsey, the airport authority's manager of properties. "We want them to see and feel and hear and taste all the things they can expect when they get into the city."

Read the entire article in the Tennessean newspaper