Nashville International Airport Development thread

[jmtunafish]

6 hours ago, LA_TN said:

OK. Agree. Sometimes we must be thankful for all that BNA is! It's easy to look at Detroit's Terminal and ask why not here? But there are many around that envy BNA - especially the new Concourse D. And we can expect the new Satellite Concourse and the new Concourse A to be just as amazing. BNA is a great place, I just wish there were some moving sidewalks. But BNA feels like a busy place - pre-pandemic it was feeling crowded!

I think it's important to remember that the current BNA terminal was built to accommodate American's hub, where most passengers were just passing through.  I believe American had concourses C and D (the old concourse D which was for all the little puddle jumpers flying to places like Owensboro, Cape Girardeau, and Tupelo).  The ticketing area and baggage claim weren't designed for more than just a handful of airlines, and they certainly weren't designed for 20 million O&D travelers.  

It is exciting to see BNA transforming before our very eyes into a world-class airport with nonstop flights to all corners of the US and many international destinations.

[CltFlyer]

I posted this on the airlines and flights thread, but figured I would post it here as well.  

Regardless of who the blame for this incident ends up being placed on.  This is an entirely unacceptable event on all levels, and could have easily ended in catastrophe.  The event has been confirmed by Frontier Airlines and appears to have been regarding the Frontier flight to Las Vegas on February 15th.

This has the potential to get blown up as a national news story.  

 

[MLBrumby]

I don't follow this sort of information closely (perhaps as much as I should), but do you know if that information has been escalated to the BNA airport management?  Even via a FB page if that's the only way to 'run that up the flagpole'.  Social media is so powerful, perhaps that's the way to help make it a national news story. Looks like a person(s) slacked on their job. Inexcusable. 

[CltFlyer]

Frontier stated they have already fired the vendor they were using for deicing at BNA.  I'm sure the airport was quickly made aware.  Any given major airport will have several options for airlines to contract  out ground services too, and luckily it seems this one was only used by Frontier, and maybe a few other carriers.  It is not standard procedure for the flight crew to get out and inspect the deicing job once complete.  They rely on the contractor to give them the all clear.  In this case they gave them the all clear, when it very visibly was not.  Multiple aviation sources have stated that the involved contractor (Trego Dugan), has a track record of poor management.  

The Air Florida Flight 90 incident is a textbook example of what the outcome can be when de-icing isn't properly executed.  De-icing is an oft-taken for granted, but crucial part of winter operations

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/13/air-florida-flight-90-crashed-potomac-37-years-ago/2565245002/

It appears the shortage of deicing fluid may have been due to a pipe bursting about halfway through the winter weather event, and it affected deicing operations for everyone except Southwest.

 

[Jamie Hall]

31 minutes ago, MLBrumby said:

I don't follow this sort of information closely (perhaps as much as I should), but do you know if that information has been escalated to the BNA airport management?  Even via a FB page if that's the only way to 'run that up the flagpole'.  Social media is so powerful, perhaps that's the way to help make it a national news story. Looks like a person(s) slacked on their job. Inexcusable. 

Imagine if the people in those window seats had the shades pulled down or weren't paying attention. I don't often fly in the winter, so I'm not sure I would have realized at the time that this was a potential disaster. Somebody was really on their toes that day.

[CltFlyer]

https://thepointsguy.com/news/frontier-de-icing-issue/

Here is a basic explanation of what happened.  

Basically there are two types of fluid used for deicing (type I and type IV).  Type I is used for the  melting of ice and Type IV is used to protect against additional build up (but is not effective at melting away existing ice).  The contractor had a shortage of Type I, but instead of informing the flight crew that they couldn't complete the deicing.  Decided to use mostly Type IV (which essentially did nothing), and told the flight crew that the wings were clear.  Inexcusable.  

[nashvylle]

2 hours ago, CltFlyer said:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/frontier-de-icing-issue/

Here is a basic explanation of what happened.  

Basically there are two types of fluid used for deicing (type I and type IV).  Type I is used for the  melting of ice and Type IV is used to protect against additional build up (but is not effective at melting away existing ice).  The contractor had a shortage of Type I, but instead of informing the flight crew that they couldn't complete the deicing.  Decided to use mostly Type IV (which essentially did nothing), and told the flight crew that the wings were clear.  Inexcusable.  

They should be put in jail for this!! 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this morning from Facebook BNA. 
 

Have you noticed a huge crane right outside the terminal? It's the same crane we showed you a few months back on the airfield side of BNA®. This is its new home for the next several months as we continue building a new roof canopy.

The next phase of canopy construction will link the central terminal to Terminal Garage 1 and will include a pedestrian bridge over Terminal Drive. This is big! 

HENSEL PHELPS Fentress Architects Corgan Inc.

[LA_TN]

BNA update
- on track for about 8.2 million passengers for the fiscal year 20-21 (48% of pre-pandemic total passengers)

BNA Vision 2.0
- current projected cost: $1.3 billion
- $184 million approved (Feb) for the following projects
  - preliminary design and environmental assessment for 2L extension
  - Concourse A site prep (RFQ posted Feb 15 and due March 18)
  - Concourse A ramp paving
  - Satellite Concourse $89 million

Satellite Concourse
- RFP posted Dec 28, 2020 and closed Feb 17, 2021
- 10 bids received, contract will be awarded in April
- 6-9 month design build process, hope for construction to start by Nov 2021

Major construction items to be complete Sep 24, 2023
- BNA Vision 1.0 : Terminal Lobby/IAB
- BNA Vision 1.0 : Hotel
- BNA Vision 2.0 : Satellite Concourse

Some notes from me:
- Southwest Airlines transfers was <15% pre-pandemic and now 24.7%
- leisure to business ratio was 65/35 pre-pandemic and now almost all leisure
- recent visit from Allegiant
 

[MLBrumby]

What is the recent visit from allegiance all about?

[markhollin]

From Airport Facebook page:

 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this early morning from Facebook BNA. 

[Sean blackdog]

Update 

January 2021 
Went down to 595,489 passengers. Cause of COVID-19. 

[bigeasy]

Crazy to think that the whole month of April 2020 was roughly the daily average pre-pandemic

[LA_TN]

On 3/15/2021 at 8:56 AM, bigeasy said:

Crazy to think that the whole month of April 2020 was roughly the daily average pre-pandemic

Well 2-3 days, but your point is correct

We've had 4 days in a row now where the total USA emplanements have exceeded 1 million passengers - first time since, you already know, March 2020. Things really spiked for Spring Break; will have to see where that leads

[Sean blackdog]

Update 

February  2021 
Went down to 543,026 passengers. Cause of COVID-19. 

[Sean blackdog]

March 4th , 2021 from Instagram Aerial Innovations Southeast. 

[LA_TN]

BNA update:
- passenger numbers are up, averaging 14k per day through the first half of March

Delta SkyClub status:
- Delta has asked for a 2 year extension, due to the pandemic; but are committed to all financial obligations. It is possible construction could resume at some point between June 1, 2021 and June 1, 2022; however, construction will very likely not resume until after June 1, 2022
- negotiations between BNA and Delta are still ongoing

- Current space is 3,000 sq ft vs new space will be 15,000 sq ft
- the current space is adequate for the current demand
- BNA is currently the 19th largest city in the Delta network and they fully intend to grow here
- Delta is the 3rd largest carrier at BNA with 14.5-15% share of the market currently

- March 21, 2021 was the original scheduled completion date (SkyClub)
- Interior build-out is expected to take approximately one year
- BNA issued an $11 million bond for the shell construction, payments must begin June 1, 2021

** The following are proposed **

** Delta begin debt service payments beginning June 1, 2021
** Build-out must be completed by March 1, 2023
** Full lease payments (in addition to bond debt service payments) will begin when build-out is complete or by March 1, 2023

Runway 2L/20R expansion (BNA Vision 2.0):
- FAA Environmental Assessment is expected to be complete in Spring of 2022
- real property acquisition can begin at that time
- O.R. Colan & Associates has been selected as the broker
- 3 year contract; with two 1 year extensions, if needed (beginning in Spring of 2022)
- 1 commercial property (navigational easement required for a portion of the USPS property)
- 19 single family homes. Most of these properties are owned by a single owner, who (politely) refused to sell many years ago when approached
- properties can be condemned, by the city, as a last resort
- an allotment of $$$ has been appropriated for the property purchase, relocation assistance, etc
 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this morning from Facebook BNA and Twitter. 

[Sean blackdog]

Last Friday evening from Facebook NC5. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/spring-breakers-experience-long-wait-times-at-valet-at-nashville-international-airport

[Andrew_3289]

Space between new parking garages, between the terminal (right) and where the hotel will be (left). 

Shot taken from the sixth floor of parking lot 1. 

[MLBrumby]

Not nitpicking, but the terminal is in the background. The MNAA Administration building is at right. It sits atop one of the garages. 

[downtownresident]

1 hour ago, Andrew_3289 said:

Space between new parking garages, between the terminal (right) and where the hotel will be (left). 

Shot taken from the sixth floor of parking lot 1. 

Great pic! The entire plaza/new roof and hotel is going to be very impressive when it’s all done. 

[Sean blackdog]

March 16, 2021. 
https://upgradedpoints.com/nashville-international-bna-airport

Edited March 24, 2021 by Sean blackdog

[Bark At The Sun]

Economy Lot C is open again.  Was out there an hour ago and there is a portable message sign off Donelson to notify.   Is good to see those shuttles running again.