ReportWire

Tag: cleveland hopkins international airport

  • Operator Layoffs at Cleveland Hopkins Won’t Impact Fall Flights, Airport Says

    Operator Layoffs at Cleveland Hopkins Won’t Impact Fall Flights, Airport Says

    [ad_1]

    click to enlarge

    Frontier

    Swissport, which is laying off 213 employees at Cleveland Hopkins, has handled luggage for Frontier, along with a number of airlines at CLE in the past few decades.

    The hundreds of baggage handlers, ticketing agents, gate managers and ramp operators let go last week at Cleveland Hopkins International won’t hamper flights or service, the airport said.

    Over the weekend, Swissport USA, the Switzerland-based company that handles passenger bags at 60 airports across the country, filed paperwork at the state level to officialize a mass layoff of 213 of their employees. Swissport has had a contractual relationship with a list of airlines since they set up shop here in 1996.

    The move lands after a summer of comings and goings. In July, Frontier announced that they would be ending five direct flights out of Cleveland, blaming “seasonal” fluctuations in the market. And in early September, tens of thousands of flight attendants at United around the country, and dozens at CLE, made clear they were poised to strike, if corporate didn’t agree to a pay raise.

    All changes that, whether seen on the flight board or at the gate, could possibly alter air travel rhythms in the coming months.

    click to enlarge United flight attendants picketing at Cleveland Hopkins in early September. - Mark Oprea

    Mark Oprea

    United flight attendants picketing at Cleveland Hopkins in early September.

    Plausible interruptions that Swissport’s former airline clientele and Hopkins itself denies will be noticeable when the company formally ends its ground handling operations in Cleveland on November 4.

    “All airlines currently under contract with Swissport have contracted with another provider to render the same services after the end of the Swissport agreement,” a Hopkins spokesperson told Scene on Tuesday. “So there will be no disruption of service.”

    In an email, Swissport told Scene that all 213 employees were handed WARN notices, federally-required notificatat least two months prior to being let go.

    Like Hopkins, Swissport signaled that let-go employees were lined up to work with G2 Secure Staff and PrimeFlight Aviation Services—which handle operations for JetBlue and Frontier—yet weren’t clear on how many of those workers actually agreed to new job offers.

    “We thank our employees for their dedication and excellent performance over the past several years, and we will focus on helping them find new employment opportunities,” a Swissport spokesperson wrote Scene.

    They added: “We will make sure our current airline customer will have a smooth transition to the new ground services provider in November.”

    [ad_2]

    Mark Oprea

    Source link

  • As United Airlines Flight Attendants at Hopkins and Other Airports Demonstrate, Union Signals Possibility of Strike

    As United Airlines Flight Attendants at Hopkins and Other Airports Demonstrate, Union Signals Possibility of Strike

    [ad_1]

    click to enlarge

    Mark Oprea

    United flight attendants picketing at Cleveland Hopkins on Wednesday.

    Last October, Miranda Beal led a little more than a dozen of her fellow flight attendants and pilots at United Airlines to Door 6 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

    They brought yellow signs calling out “corporate greed.” They chanted for higher wages. They noted the company’s $12 billion earnings for one quarter compared to prevailing wages for workers.

    “Year after year, they’re making record revenues,” Beal told Scene then, referring to United’s C-suite, as picketers chanted behind her. “So, we’re here to demand United to come to the negotiating table in good faith.”

    On Wednesday afternoon, United had not yet placated Beal and roughly 27,000 other of its flight attendants across the country.

    As today, around 1 p.m., Beal announced in tandem with picketing crews at 26 other airports in the U.S. and Great Britain that those tens of thousands of workers had had enough inaction. They, for the first time in 19 years, were ready to strike—if need be.

    “Well, if we feel like we’re deadlocked and they’re not giving us what we need,” she clarified, “then we’ll have no other choice.”

    Beal’s sentiment was pretty much unanimous amongst the 24,700 vote-eligible members of the United Association of Flight Attendants: “99.9 percent” of them, Beal told Scene minutes after the announcement, had voted in favor of a potential strike.

    click to enlarge Melinda Beal, a flight attendant, announced the authorization of a strike at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. It was the first time since 2005 the AFA authorized a strike on this level. - Mark Oprea

    Mark Oprea

    Melinda Beal, a flight attendant, announced the authorization of a strike at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. It was the first time since 2005 the AFA authorized a strike on this level.

    As the yellow signs warned on Wednesday—”PAY US OR CHAOS”—the main demand echoed in front of Door 6 was for higher pay. The average flight attendant in Ohio sees about $33,700, or roughly $16 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. United CEO Scott Kirby takes in about 30 times that, at about $1 million a year.

    If the AFA picketers do get approval from the U.S. National Mediation Board, and hear nothing from United corporate by the end of September, it’s likely that they’ll strike. And not in typical fashion. Attendants and full crews would use their so-called CHAOS approach (“Create Havoc Around the System”), a kind of flash strike method, targeting specific flights under direction from union higher ups.

    “Or we could just shut it all down,” Beal suggested. But “we are really, really hoping that we don’t have to initiate the strikeout. We’re calling on United to come to the table.”

    Though attendants picketing Wednesday weren’t clear on the exact details of what they want to see in a revised contract, many recalled the last successful negotiation, in 2021.

    But a lot’s changed since then. Grocery prices have shot up nearly 20 percent. A $750 a month apartment is now $1,100. Gas is now on average $3.50 a gallon.

    “In that time frame, we’ve seen tremendous amount of inflation,” United pilot Ed Higgins told Scene in midst of the demonstration. “We’ve seen cost-of-living increases. United has set record profits, and the United flight attendants have nothing to show for it.”

    United Airlines has yet to respond to today’s news. They’ll have, like Beal said, until the end of the 30-day “cooling off” period to reciprocate.

    Subscribe to Cleveland Scene newsletters.

    Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

    [ad_2]

    Mark Oprea

    Source link

  • Busy travel season: What to know before heading to Hopkins

    Busy travel season: What to know before heading to Hopkins

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – As Northeast Ohioans gear up for the Fourth of July holiday, officers with the Transportation Security Administration at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are getting ready for what the TSA calls its busiest travel season ever, starting on Thursday and continuing through July 8.

    “At Cleveland, the busiest time of day is in the early morning, between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.,” said Daniel Narowitz, deputy federal security director for TSA in Ohio. “Travelers departing on the early morning flights should expect to arrive at the airport early. Checkpoints open at 3 on the south checkpoint and 3:45 on the north checkpoint.”

    The TSA says all airlines at Hopkins can be accessed through each checkpoint.

    Although they are anticipating a spike in summer travelers, the agency is hoping to maintain its wait time of 30 minutes for standard passengers and a 10-minute wait for Pre-Check passengers.

    To avoid delays in the checkpoints, they are reminding travelers to have proper ID and to follow all TSA rules on what you can and cannot carry, as indicated on TSA.gov.

    “Passengers are allowed one one-quart bag with 3.4 ounces of any liquids, gels, aerosols or creams,” said Narowitz. “Firearms are never allowed through the checkpoint.”

    “Sometimes I think people think, ‘oh, it’s just one bottle of water, just one Swiss Army knife, how long does that take?’ Maybe for you, that doesn’t take long, but when one person does it, two people do it, three people, those times add up and it affects everyone in line behind you,” said TSA spokesperson Jessica Mayle.

    They say it’s a good idea when you’re packing your carry-on bag to start by making sure there are no items from previous trips that could cause a problem.

    “It prevents you from going up to the checkpoint. We find a prohibited item, we say ‘whose is this?’ and you say, ‘oh my gosh, I forgot I even had that in my bag,’ so really trying to save you from being at the checkpoint with an item that you don’t want or need,” said Mayle.

    As a reminder, keep your cool while in line at the checkpoint, because unruly behavior can also lead to delays for everyone.

    “We’re looking at those really busy times of day, 5 to 8 a.m., every second counts,” Mayle said. “We’re really trying to get those passengers through as quickly as possible, so the passenger has a huge responsibility.”

    They say it is wise to arrive at the airport two hours before your flight. It will give you plenty of time to get checked in and avoid a lot of stress.

    [ad_2]

    Jack Shea

    Source link

  • Watch: Suspected Hopkins Airport thieves caught

    Watch: Suspected Hopkins Airport thieves caught

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – Video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows police busting suspected thieves for stealing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

    These were separate cases, but the suspects share something in common affecting every traveler.

    Police video shows Cleveland police going back to the scene of the crime with a man suspected of breaking into cars in an airport parking garage.

    Another police video clip shows officers tracking a phone stolen from the Hopkins Airport terminal. Police found the phone and a suspect downtown at a bus station.

    We’ve reported that police have a chronic problem with thieves stealing from vehicles or from inside the terminal. Both of these suspects are well-known to airport police.

    “How many cars you break into tonight?” an officer asked in the parking lot.

    “Just one, the suspect answered.

    He struggled to lead police back to a pickup where they say he had stolen a backpack with two laptops.

    “I think it was on the next floor up. Something like this one,” he said.

    Police also questioned the suspect about a pocket full of credit cards with different names. The man claimed they are names of friends.

    But, an officer asks about one man, saying, “what’s his name?”

     “Ah, Lee. I forget his middle name. He got his middle and last name,” the suspect said, stumbling.

    At one point, an officer asked, “why do you keep on coming back here?”

    “I don’t know. Being stupid. Being stupid,” the suspect said.

    Video shows police confronting the suspect with the phone that had been tracked downtown.

     “Where’s the phone you took from the airport?” the officer asked.

    “The phone?” the suspect responded.

    “Yeah, you know because you’re on video everywhere when you go to the airport,” the officer said.

    “Oh, the phone!” the man then answered.

    “He’s a regular trespasser because he was at the airport, yesterday and the day before,” another officer pointed out.

    Cuyahoga County prosecutors indicted both of these suspects.

    The prosecutor’s office says the garage suspect, Damon Knowles, pleaded guilty to this case and one from Cleveland Heights. A judge gave him probation with monitoring by a mental health unit.

    Meanwhile, Cuyahoga County prosecutors also say Brandon Graham has been indicted in connection with the stolen phone. That case is just beginning to move through court.

    The police video shows Graham told an officer he picked up the phone since, “it was right in the open.”

    “Wait, but it’s not yours,” the officer reminded him.

    These are not the first cases like this at Hopkins, so be aware the crowd might include more than travelers and their families.

    “You have no reason to be at that airport. No reason,” police told Graham.

    In the background of this, we’ve reported that the Cleveland Police Department is short-staffed at the airport, with the number of officers assigned there consistently down as much as 25%.

    [ad_2]

    Ed Gallek

    Source link

  • Delta, Spirit planes collide at Cleveland Hopkins airport; no injuries

    Delta, Spirit planes collide at Cleveland Hopkins airport; no injuries

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) — An airplane collided with another airplane while passengers were boarding at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

    It happened at about 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, according to a statement from the FAA. No injuries were reported.

    Delta Airlines Flight No. 2577 was taxiing when its wingtip struck Spirit Airlines Flight No. 655, which was parked at the gate and boarding passengers.

    “Our guests deplaned normally through the jet bridge and no injuries to Spirit guests or team members were reported,” reads a Monday statement from a Spirit spokesperson. “Safety is our top priority, and the aircraft was removed from service to be thoroughly inspected by our maintenance team.”

    Spirit was giving its passengers alternative travel arrangements “as quickly as possible,” reads the statement.

    The Delta plane was a Boeing 739 with 180 passengers headed for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Its passengers were delayed about four hours while waiting for another aircraft on Sunday night.

    Delta is also planning to investigate. Delta issued the following statement:

    “Delta teams worked to reaccommodate customers to their final destination to Atlanta after the wingtip from Delta flight DL2577 made contact with a parked aircraft at CLE. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

    The collision happened near Gate B2, according to an airport spokesperson. There was no impact to air traffic.

    [ad_2]

    Justin Dennis

    Source link

  • Video: What driver told police after crashing Hopkins Airport fences

    Video: What driver told police after crashing Hopkins Airport fences

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – Police video released to the FOX 8 I-Team takes you into the scene after investigators say a mother with kids crashed fences at Hopkins Airport.

    We’ve also found new steps to prevent something like that from happening again.

    Brook Park police shows the driver challenging an officer as he tried to give her traffic tickets.

    “Can I see your citations?” she said.

    “They’re exactly the same,” the officer responded.

    “No, let me see your citations,” the driver insisted.

    Monday, police say a mom with two kids in the car plowed through six fences at Hopkins Airport. Investigators, quickly found the driver having some kind of crisis.

    Before she went to the hospital, Brook Park police tried to issue her tickets. They say she hit multiple cars and went outside of her lane on Snow Road before barreling through airport fences.

    “I did not cause the accident,” the woman said. “Would you stop for someone trying to harm you… following you?”

    At the scene, Brook Park police issued those tickets, but Cleveland police could file other charges. They say the driver could face charges for vandalism and child endangering.

    Once the investigation is finished, a prosecutor will decide.

    Meanwhile, an I-Team camera on Thursday captured guardrails going up along a section of airport fencing. We’ve seen many drivers crash these fences.

    But, a Hopkins spokesperson said the guardrail work is not related to what just happened.

    In an email, the airport response to an I-Team inquiry said, “Planning for the guardrail project began in fall of 2023 and the budget was approved in January of this year. The work officially started on Monday so no, it was not as a result of the incident. The current guardrail install will occur along Brookpark Road to SR 237. We are planning for additional installation in 2025 on the south side of the airport.”

    But, what timing for the work to start.

    On the video, at one point, a Cleveland officer tried to encourage the mother to stop asking so many questions about those tickets.

    “Come on, let’s go. The sooner we get there… Your kids are already on the way to the hospital, and you’re not going to be there,” the officer said.

    A police report shows the driver had more than $7,000 in her pockets and more than $11,000 in her car.

    The I-Team checked court records in three counties and found no criminal cases against her,

    We found her driver’s license had been suspended three times before, but she currently has a valid license.

    The incident Monday led to a halt in planes taking off for half an hour.

    “Please, put my son’s information on the citation,” the mother told an officer.

    “I don’t need to do that,” the officer responded.

    Adding to the cost, the airport had to have private security sit at the openings in the fences until they could be repaired.

    [ad_2]

    Ed Gallek

    Source link

  • Driver plows through fences at Hopkins Airport: I-Team

    Driver plows through fences at Hopkins Airport: I-Team

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has found a driver plowed through multiple fences at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, but so much about this case is not that unusual.

    Monday afternoon, SkyFox HD captured a long path of damage.

    Police said a woman having some kind of crisis with kids in her car barreled through a secure area of the airport off limits to the public.

    Some initial Cleveland police dispatch radio traffic revealed, “a large, loud bang was heard. Just trying to figure out what was going on.”

    As it happened, airport worker Adam Janis recorded video.

    “I saw her plow through the fence going like 80 or 90 through this construction part,” he told the I-Team. “I was in utter disbelief. I’m like, she’s got to stop eventually. Then, she blew through that fence.”

    The driver didn’t stop until she made it to the I-X Center.

    “I was like, ‘hey, you’ve got to stop. I got help on the way.’ Then, I saw the two kids in the back seat. They were crying,” Janis said.

    More police radio traffic indicated, “she seems to be in crisis. Won’t let go of her kids.”

    Time and time again, in recent years, we’ve shown you drivers going through Hopkins Airport fences, or we’ve seen intruders found behind those fences after getting through.

    Last August, a woman wandered the airfield for hours. Police also found her to be in some kind of crisis. Body camera video shows an officer could not even communicate with her.

    This problem actually came up a few months ago at a city council hearing. Council members asked why so many people crash through Hopkins Airport fences. An airport official said there’s no simple, clear explanation. It happens for a lot of different reasons.

    In fact, the city just released other police body camera video from last summer when another person got through an airport gate. Another person in crisis.

    In the latest case, multiple ambulances showed up to check out the driver and the kids.

    The airport stopped flights out for about 30 minutes.

    Meanwhile, that witness we spoke to wonders what really led to this.

    “I feel bad for the kids. Honestly, that’s what I feel bad for,” Janis said.

    The driver did not make it out to any runways. She ended up getting taken to a hospital.

    We will check back on the investigation.

    In some of these cases, we’ve seen no charges filed. We’ve also seen federal charges filed or county charges filed. The intruder last August got indicted on county charges, but that case is on hold while the suspect undergoes mental health treatment.

    [ad_2]

    Ed Gallek

    Source link

  • Airport official under fire for take-home car resigns: I-Team

    Airport official under fire for take-home car resigns: I-Team

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has learned a top Cleveland Hopkins International Airport official suddenly resigned.

    It comes after an I-Team investigation revealing Dina Wilson had the use of a take-home city car while living about 70 miles away.

    And, this marks just the latest shake-up with n official under fire over a city “commuter” car.
    Last week, the I-Team approached Dina Wilson heading to a city council meeting, and she defended herself.

    Records show, last year, she put 39,000 miles on the city car. But, she never had to come in after-hours.

    Wilson told us, “I’m on 24 hours-7 days a week call.”

    We, then, responded with, ” But, if the entire year went by, and you never had to come in, how necessary is it?” She answered, “It’s very necessary. We’re running an airport.”

    Wilson served as a manager over Airport Operations, Public Safety and Human Resources.

    And, we had asked her boss about allowing someone on his management team to commute with a city car living 70 miles away.

    “So, I’m not gonna speak about any individual person,” Bryant Francis said.

    But, Tuesday, he sent an e-mail to staff members. It said, in part, “Dina Wilson resigned …effective immediately.” It also said, “I greatly appreciate Dina’s valuable assistance. She was a member of DPC (Department of Port Control) for approximately 6-years, and I wish her well…”

    For months, the I-team has been investigating the use of city cars. Meantime, the city is doing an overall review of take-home cars.

    In this case, we’ve requested Dina Wilson’s resignation letter.

    And, we’ve asked if the airport had planned to allow her to continue to commute with a city car, or not. No word, yet, on when we will get the results of the city’s overall review of the use of city cars. Some Council members want policy changed.

    [ad_2]

    Ed Gallek

    Source link

  • Headed to Hopkins? Why parking may be a problem

    Headed to Hopkins? Why parking may be a problem

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) – When flying, many of us worry about delays or whether to check our luggage. 

    Usually, parking a car doesn’t take much thought.

    But during the month of March, it becomes priority number one at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

    Michele Dynia with Hopkins International says right now, finding a spot to park on site is difficult. 

    “We are in the heart of our spring break season right now, so a lot of our lots are full,” she adds. 

    However, that doesn’t mean passengers should give up trying. 

    “We always encourage people to check our website before they come to the airport to check the status of our parking before they head out here,” explained Dynia. 

    Maybe the most reliable option for a headache free experience is not to worry about parking at all. 

    If you can hitch a ride to the airport from a friend or taxi, Hopkins International suggests you do just that. 

    But if you don’t have the ability to get a ride, the best method for grabbing a parking space could be this:

    “Parking at RTA and taking the train in because it connects directly to the terminal.”

    For more information on up-to-date parking, click here.

    [ad_2]

    Brad Hamilton

    Source link

  • 12 new low-fare destinations coming to CLE this year

    12 new low-fare destinations coming to CLE this year

    [ad_1]

    [In the player above, watch previous FOX 8 News coverage of Frontier Airlines’ plans to add nonstop service to Jamaica in 2024.]

    CLEVELAND (WJW) — Frontier Airlines has announced nonstop service from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to 12 new destinations in nine states, which will start this spring.

    Each service is expected to run three or four times a week. Flyers who book one of the new services in the next couple of days will pay $19 for most destinations.

    “We at Cleveland Hopkins are incredibly pleased with the increasingly diverse mix of business and leisure destinations Frontier is adding for Northeast Ohio residents and visitors alike,” Bryant Francis, Cleveland’s director of port control, is quoted in a news release. “Today’s announcement brings Frontier to thirty nonstop destinations, more than any other airline at CLE, and includes new service to several of our top unserved markets.”

    Here’s where else you can fly on Frontier, starting this year:

    Destination airport Service starts on Frequency Introductory fare
    George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

    Houston, Texas

    May 17 Four times a week $19
    Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)

    Jacksonville, Florida

    May 22 Four times a week $19
    Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

    Kenner, Louisiana
    May 22 Four times a week $19
    Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)

    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
    May 21 Three times a week $19
    Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

    Austin, Texas
    May 16 Three times a week $19
    Charleston International Airport (CHS)

    North Charleston, South Carolina

    May 17 Four times a week $19
    Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)

    Savannah, Georgia
    May 16 Three times a week $19
    Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

    Salt Lake City, Utah
    May 16 Three times a week $59
    Pensacola International Airport (PNS)

    Pensacola, Florida
    May 21 Three times a week $19
    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

    Baltimore, Maryland
    May 16 Three times a week $19
    Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

    Saint Paul, Minnesota
    May 17 Four times a week $19
    LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

    Queens, New York

    April 10 Daily $19

    There are some catches to the deal. To get the cheap introductory fare, flyers must book a nonstop trip by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16. Tickets must be bought at least 14 days ahead of the flight.

    The low fares are only good for flights through June 19. Friday flights aren’t eligible. Also ineligible are:

    • Flights to Las Vegas on Sundays through Wednesdays and from Las Vegas on Tuesdays through Fridays
    • Flights to Florida on Sundays through Wednesdays and from Florida on Tuesdays through Fridays

    There are also several blackout dates:

    March 2024

    • 1-4; 7-11; 14-18; 21-25; 28-31

    April 2024

    May 2024

    Also, flight frequency and times may change. The latest scheduling is available on the Frontier website.

    Frontier in November announced it would open a new crew base at Hopkins, employing up to 110 pilots, 250 flight attendants and 50 aircraft maintenance workers in the first year.

    “Our growth in Cleveland is soaring,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle is quoted in the release. “We’re thrilled to connect consumers in Northeast Ohio with low fares to even more destinations throughout the U.S. Our new crew base at CLE set to open in March will help support our rapidly growing operations.”

    [ad_2]

    Justin Dennis

    Source link

  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport flights halt after car drives onto runway

    Cleveland Hopkins International Airport flights halt after car drives onto runway

    [ad_1]

    CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – All Cleveland Hopkins International Airport flights were ordered to stay grounded or divert from CLE on one of the busiest travel days of the year after a car drove through an airfield gate and onto the runway, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport confirmed.

    The incident happened on Nov. 23 around 8:45 p.m., the evening before Thanksgiving.

    After the suspect drove onto the tarmac through the west gate to try to escape police, he abandoned the car on the runway and tried to run away, according to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

    Cleveland Hopkins International Airport stated Cleveland Police soon caught the suspect.

    “To maintain the highest level of safety and security, operations were temporarily on hold,” Cleveland Hopkins International Airport stated.

    All inbound flights were being diverted, with take-offs at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport facing delays.

    Cleveland Hopkins International Airport said normal airport operations have resumed.

    According to a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport spokesperson, there was no risk to the safety of anyone in the terminal.

    [ CLICK HERE TO CHECK FLIGHT STATUSES AT CLEVELAND HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ]

    This investigation is ongoing.

    This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.

    [ad_2]

    Source link