urbanSTL

I assume they're talking about the screen in the main terminal building?

He brought in another modernist trailblazer, Harry Bertoia, and commissioned him to create a decorative screen that separated the airport restaurant from the ticketing and check-in areas with brilliant-colored vibrancy. In a subsequent addition to the terminal building, the screen was yanked out and vanished forever. (link)

The Art Museum has a small-scale model of it, and claims it is the only surviving example with the actual colors of the airport sculpture. I think it's hideous, but that era was really big into "screens" whether they be made of floating metal hunks or concrete.

bprop wrote:I assume they're talking about the screen in the main terminal building?

He brought in another modernist trailblazer, Harry Bertoia, and commissioned him to create a decorative screen that separated the airport restaurant from the ticketing and check-in areas with brilliant-colored vibrancy. In a subsequent addition to the terminal building, the screen was yanked out and vanished forever. (link)

The Art Museum has a small-scale model of it, and claims it is the only surviving example with the actual colors of the airport sculpture. I think it's hideous, but that era was really big into "screens" whether they be made of floating metal hunks or concrete.

I don't remember the artist's name either, but he said it was a "world class sculpture" situated outside the terminal that was later removed for (what else in St. Louis) more parking.



Mr Schlafly makes a good point. And wasn't outdoor art a part of the 'Airport Experience' project at some point? But any such art should only compliment upgrades to the dingy interior of the terminals and baggage claim area.



EDIT: ^ When I said 'outdoor art', I was thinkin of the entrance monuments. The P-D has a pic (that I hadn't seen before) here:



http://www.stltoday.com/mds/news/html/2099



-RBB

I believe the sculpture that was moved for parking was by Henry Moore, it was relocated to another spot in the metro area (perhaps the Botanical garden).

southcitygent wrote:I believe the sculpture that was moved for parking was by Henry Moore, it was relocated to another spot in the metro area (perhaps the Botanical garden).

I think I've found it...

The Aloe family paid for the Milles installation, and later, Isabel Aloe Baer and her husband, Howard Baer, presented two sculptures by Henry Moore to Lambert-St. Louis airport. The old Globe-Democrat newspaper characterized the sculptures as dinosaur droppings. Eventually, the sculptures were so neglected the Baers reclaimed them. Finally they came to the St. Louis Art Museum, and now they enjoy a considerably more dignified and appropriate home overlooking the Grand Basin in Forest Park.

DeBaliviere wrote:

southcitygent wrote:I believe the sculpture that was moved for parking was by Henry Moore, it was relocated to another spot in the metro area (perhaps the Botanical garden).

I think I've found it...

The Aloe family paid for the Milles installation, and later, Isabel Aloe Baer and her husband, Howard Baer, presented two sculptures by Henry Moore to Lambert-St. Louis airport. The old Globe-Democrat newspaper characterized the sculptures as dinosaur droppings. Eventually, the sculptures were so neglected the Baers reclaimed them. Finally they came to the St. Louis Art Museum, and now they enjoy a considerably more dignified and appropriate home overlooking the Grand Basin in Forest Park.

Ah, so these are they:







Source



Thanks - never knew their history. And now that it's been mentioned, I can kinda see the dino doo doo reference...



-RBB

I see Memphis is adding a $150 million 7-level parking facility at their airport for economy parking and all rental car companies.







http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/memphis/ ... ory10.html



.http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/ ... tory1.html





Should St. Louis consider a large parking facility to combine short term, long term, and all rental car pick-up and drop-off in the same facility? Would it pay for itself? They could build a new tram from the terminals to the structure. Or, to save money, if they build the structure just east of the East Terminal along the current metro-link track, they could probably use the existing metro-link track to host a high frequency vehicle between the terminals and the new parking facility. And that stop could also be the new metro-link airport terminus.



When I rate an airport, the number one thing I revere is not having to ride a bus to get to and from the rental car sites. Airports such as Minneapolis, or San Francisco have short trams instead of buses to their airport owned car rental facilities. You wheel your luggage onto the tram and just stand for a few minutes and then go straight to your rental car.



If we build such a facility, it might pay for itself from the rental car company leases and parking fees. We could get rid of all the rental car van traffic and a lot of the long term parking bus traffic at the terminals. And we could demolish the current short term parking garage and make the front door of the airport into a big signature fountain or sculpture or something with a BIG airport sign in front. Or something. Anything.

Anybody have thoughts on what possible impact a Southwest purchase of Frontier on STL. Obviously, Southwest would move Frontier's Denver flight over to the East Terminal and maybe increase the frequency of the flight.



I was thinking that Southwest might have been interested in using STL as a springboard for more West Coast flights as AA cut back and possible flights south of the border. However, This acquisition would mean that Southwest would essentially have a mini hub in the west and thus no reason to go beyond what it has done in St. Louis already other then maybe a Cancun flight, etc. My other wish, would be an European flight via a future code share agreement with Southwest. However, that would make more sense out of BWI then STL.



Which gets me back to JetBlue. The only stable airline without a hub or mini-hub beyond the East Coast and room to expand westward. AirTran ran with Milwaukee after acquiring Midwest Air.

AA could have run with the TWA franchise after they purchased it. But its looking like they've squandered the whole thing. They could have sold the St. Louis hub to Southwest, or someone. Instead, Southwest is taking the business from them one route at a time.



I'm going to Las Vegas in September. For the days I go, AA has one non-stop that leaves at 7:30 AM -- which means wake-up at 4:30 AM at the latest and be useless the rest of the day. And one returning (2:20)



Southwest has 4 non-stops going (6:45, 11:05, 1:30, 6:15) and 3 returning (8:45, 12:20, 4:15).



Guess which airline I'm taking, even though I would prefer AA and am a gold level frequent flyer on AA.

Gary Kreie wrote:I'm going to Las Vegas in September. For the days I go, AA has one non-stop that leaves at 7:30 AM -- which means wake-up at 4:30 AM at the latest and be useless the rest of the day. And one returning (2:20)

Don't forget too that after November, Southwest will be your only option for a non-stop to Vegas.

I'm still amazed every time I go to or leave the airport how officials and leadership, over time, had allowed the current parking and infrastructure completely dominate the first impression as if they intended to hide the Main Terminal itself. The Main Terminal is truly the only part of the airport that is designed to leave a big impression or emphasize the importance of flying.



Wishful thinking on my part would include rebuilding the drop off/pickup areas as well as put the metrolink station, rentals cars and short term parking into a new structure with a convenient tram or moving walkways. Their is enough space if the region is ready to implode the existing parking structure and be creative. However, the sight lines will never be right until they start over from skratch on the existing infrastructure in front of the main terminal.

AirTran ran with Milwaukee after acquiring Midwest Air.

Airtran did NOT acquire Midwest Air.

Talks quit after 2007

Midwest was acquired this year by small Republic Airways.

Thanks for the correction, I didn't do my homework.

SOUTHWEST ADDING MORE FLIGHTS / DESTINATIONS TO STL



Southwest Airlines is adding non-stop flights from St. Louis and making adjustments to its winter schedule.



Starting January 10, travelers will be able to fly non-stop from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to Boston Logan and Minneapolis. The airline will offer two flights daily to both destinations.



Full story from STL BIZ JOURNAL:



http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stor ... ily32.html

This is great news. AA has non-stops to Minneapolis, but only on the little Embraer jets.



It is getting easier to bypass Dallas and Chicago and fly on a 737 or bigger jet.

I think it is more important then ever for Lambert to bulldoze Concourse D and make East Terminal truly stand alone terminal for Southwest. Modify the east end of terminial lobby/baggage claim for International arrivals. Who knows, Lambert might snag an international flight from an international discount carrier or Southwest might want to entertain the idea when their is some strong connections to the north (Chicago, Minneapolis), south (Dallas) and the West Coast cities from the same terminal.

St. Louis has non-stops to almost every big city in the country -- they are just all with different airlines. Why doesn't some enterprising person start something called "Virtual Hub Air" -- a web site that just rounds up all the non-stops from the various airlines and pretends to be a St. Louis hub airline. The site could even offer something like FF miles if you book through their site. Who cares what actual airline you end up on -- they are all the same. Same flight attendant scripts, same planes, same little cups for coke, etc. Maybe "Virtual Hub Air" could even email you a coupon for a free gourmet sandwich you redeem at Pucks to harken back to the days when airlines served food. I'll invest.

Who knows, Lambert might snag an international flight from an international discount carrier

STL does have international flights. USA3000 offers excellent international and domestic flights from STL.



If we land the Air China deal... I am sure it will really change STL.

Matguy, would certainly agree on USA3000 offering international flights on a seasonal basis. However, thats a response that I would expect out of Jefferson City. The problem is we need to provide service to a global business community that works year around to places they need to be. For example, we got a company like AB owned by the Belgiums with the North America ops ran by a brazilian executive. They are probably begging for Jetblue since it would give them a direct flight into JFK with something other then a tin can and access to world wide destinations.



Why not a consistent daily flight to Europe? Why not Mexico City? (Southwest attempt to purchase Frontier had a strong Mexican component to it). Why have a mentality that will continue to support New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta more then anything else while we daydream about the day that TWA rises from the ashes to fill the huge number of unused gates.

I agree.

We need more European/Asian connections for sure.

But STL is not alone. Airlines and the entire industry are so strapped and suffering right now and unless they reorganize and expand... there is little that is going to happen right away.



USA3000 offers some seasonal and regualr service to the Caribbean and Mexico. AirCanada offers Canada.



As for NYC flights:

Laguardia: nonstop service offered by American (large planes)

JFK: nonstop service offered by Delta (CRJ)

Newark: American (large planes), Continental (EWR)



I like that STL does have service to all NYC airports nonstop. I prefer Laguardia over all NYC airports. Since JFK has the airtrain now to Manhattan and Laguardia it makes it much more accessible to connections and the city itself. Before JFK was so disconnected IMO.

From the Today in the Sky Blog

St. Louis losing mainline United service



32m ago from USA TODAY



That's according to KSDK-TV of St. Louis, which says United is "switching from a flying mix of big airliners and small regional jets to only flying those smaller regional planes." Beginning today, all of the airline's flights from St. Louis will now be operated by United's United Express partners. "United spokeswoman Sarah Massier says the recession has caused a drop in demand for seats on flights out of St. Louis," The Associated Press writes. KSDK adds "a spokesperson for United said they would rather fill all the seats on a smaller jet than fly with a partially empty larger plane."

UA has only had a half dozen or so mainline flights to STL in the past year anyway.



I don't mind the RJs, as long as they aren't the true tin cans - CRJ or Embraer 145s. Those planes are crap, tiny, and uncomfortable. Delta has CRJs to JFK - that's way too far for one of those planes.

If the Regional jets had a larger circumference I'd be ok with them... A 2 hour flight in a Virginia Slim is no fun. The curvature of the plane does not allow for adequate leg room except on the one isle seat, and having to duck all the way down the hallway is a freaking joke.