Caracas Maiquetia Airport is undergoing the first phase of a $100 million upgrade project, dubbed "Maiquetia 2000". This will see the airport's main passenger terminal reconstructed within a two-level departure/arrival layout, due to open in 2001. The airport's runway is also undergoing major repairs. Work has begun at Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport on Continental Express' new regional facility, which will handle the carrier's regional jet fleet. The airline will operate services from the airport to Continental hubs in Cleveland, Newark and Houston. The new centre will incorporate a 6,040m² (65,000ft²) hangar which will be able to accommodate four of the airline's Embraer RJ-135/145s. The Japanese transport ministry is finalising plans to adopt a floating island concept, rather than land reclamation, to support Tokyo's planned third airport. The development will be built in the waters of Tokyo Bay, probably adjacent to Yokohama City. Construction could begin within two years, with completion slated for 2010. The UK's National Express Group is finalising a 99-year lease deal for the operation of New York's Stewart Airport, about 100km (60 miles) north of Manhattan. When the deal is completed, the company will make an initial cash payment to the state of New York of $24 million, with additional payments of $11 million over 10 years. During this period New York will install a new spur road as the airport is developed for expansion. Work has begun on the creation of a new offshore airport in Kobe, Japan. Land reclamation is under way, which will see a 270Ha (666 acres)-wide island created, featuring a single 2,500m (8,200ft)-long runway. The project is costing over ´300 billion ($2.83 billion), and is expected to be completed by the middle of the next decade. Southwest Airlines is undertaking a $15 million expansion of its base at Dallas Love Field Airport, with new hangars and maintenance facilities due to open during 2002.
Source: Flight International
