Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunPaul J. Wiedefeld, CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunDiana Bornik of Lakeland FL takes a picture of planes from the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina PernaAt BWI Thurgood Marshall airport, U.S. Department of Agriculture biologist Jeremy Smith shows how he shoots a cap pistol designed to scare away birds by its sound and flare.
KARL MERTON FERRON, Baltimore SunRibbon cutting ceremony with JetBlue's first departure of a commercial flight from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Baltimore Sun photo by Algerina PernaLooking like oversized head boppers, wires arc over lights at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to deter birds from perching there. The airport takes many steps to safely keep flocks away from the fields in hopes of reducing bird strikes to aircraft.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumTravelers check in at BWI's Southwest ticket counter.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumAt BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport, Amardas Khalsa, 3, naps while his parents (Jai Fuller, left, his mom, and Parmatma Khalsa, his dad, right) organize their bags to check. Behind the counter is customer service agent Heidi Gordon.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumAt BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport, Amardas Khalsa, 3, of Leverett, Massachusetts, takes a nap at Southwest's baggage check counter.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThis is a detai of pistons and a rudder pedal from a Fairchild PT-19 aircraft that are on display in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumThe Oriole Bird slows down a rambunctious Jimmie Dow, who was waiting for a flight from BWI Marshall Airport to Long Island, N.Y. The mascot teamed with Orioles players Brian Roberts and Jake Fox to fill in for Southwest Airlines workers as part of a promotional event.
Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock TaylorBWI CEO Paul Wiedefeld stands at a window overlooking construction at the airport.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunA connector linking Concourse A and B with Concourse C in on the left.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumAirTran's ticket counter is quiet on Monday afternoon at BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles utility man Jake Fox quizzes passengers waiting to board a flight at BWI Marshall Airport on Southwest Airlines trivia.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles second baseman Brian Roberts says hello to fans while filling in for Southwest Airlines workers at BWI Marshall Airport as part of a promotional event.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThis is a viewing scope that overlooks a gate in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr."We have had to take flights out of somewhere else to put in Baltimore," says a spokesman for AirTran, the fastest-growing airline at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. "It's a good indication to how important BWI is to us."
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunElaine Medley, left, and Nancy Lancaster, right, both of Kentucky, sit in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles second baseman Brian Roberts looks for a little help in guiding a Southwest Airlines jet to its gate at BWI Marshall Airport.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumA schedule at BWI shows Southwest and AirTran flights
Sun photo by Nanine HartzenbuschConstruction is under way for a $219 million Southwest Airlines terminal at BWI. Southwest will have 26 gates, and be able to add five more, when the terminal opens in spring 2005. BWI is likely to become Southwest's busiest travel hub with more than 200 flights a day.
Algerina Perna, Baltimore SunBWI airport was virtually empty due to the snow storm which caused almost all flights to be canceled during a February 2013 snowstorm.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunPassengers walk toward Concourse C through the new connector linking C with Concourse A and B.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunTom Dungee, Columbia, leaves the new Concourse B and C security checkpoint on his way to Concourse C at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunBWI airport was virtually empty due to the storm which caused almost all flights to be canceled. Eileen Martinez, 21, from Laredo, Texas, missed her interview today at Duke University in Durham, N.C., when her flight from BWI was canceled.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThis is a view of the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumSouthwest planes wait for passengers at BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport
Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock TaylorThis is an overview of the Southwest Airlines area at BWI airport.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunConstruction work is shown outside of the connector linking Concourse A and B with Concourse C.
Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock TaylorBWI CEO Paul Wiedefeld overlooks the Southwest Airlines area at the airport.
Kim Hairston / Baltimore SunPlanes wait for passengers at BWI the week before Thanksgiving
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunKeith Martin, left of Baltimore, brought his godson Anthony Adger, 6, right, to see the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles utility man Jake Fox signs autographs at BWI Marshall Airport. Fox teamed with second baseman Brian Roberts and the Oriole Bird to fill in for Southwest Airlines workers as part of a promotional event.
Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock TaylorPassengers wait in line at the Southwest Airlines counter at BWI airport.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunA Boeing 707 main landing gear is on display in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThis is a view overlooking one of the gates in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumMarquis Hardison, 3, of Jacksonville, Fla., thanks Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts for an autograph as the child's grandmother, Diana Rivers, looks on.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumDerek Lucas, 36, of Gaithersburg takes AirTran when he flies from BWI to Atlanta on business.
Sun photo by Christopher T. AssafConstruction crews work on the ticketing area for the new Southwest Airlines terminal that is to open in the spring at BWI.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumTravelers check in at the AirTran counter at BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport.
Baltimore Sun Barbara Haddock TaylorMassage therapist Mary Williams of Baltimore, right, gives a seated massage to Tracie Durall, a passenger from Washington state, at the new (be relax) Spa at BWI airport.
Baltimore Sun photo by Amy DavisKevin Crowley, right, travels a lot for his computer sales job with Hewlett-Packard. The Montgomery County resident has been flying out of BWI instead of either Reagan National or Dulles International airports because of cheaper fares. He was at a check-in line Monday.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThere are several rocking chairs with views of planes in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunThe first phase of the $100 million dollar terminal upgrade at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is open with a connector linking Concourse A and B with Concourse C. The new Concorse C security area has nine checkpoints.
Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr.Southwest is the dominant carrier at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles utility man Jake Fox and the Oriole Bird entertain passengers waiting for flights at BWI Marshall Airport as part of the team's promotion with Southwest Airlines.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles second baseman Brian Roberts guides a Southwest Airlines jet to its gate at BWI Marshall Airport with the help of ground operations ramp agent Jason Moczulski and the Oriole Bird. The team and the airline paired up for a promotional event.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumOrioles players Jake Fox, front, and Brian Roberts walk through a Southwest Airlines terminal at BWI Marshall Airport.
Kim Hairston / Baltimore SunBWI
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThis is a view of the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Baltimore Sun photo by Jed KirschbaumKristen McArthur of Vero Beach, Fla., waits for her flight at BWI's Southwest terminal.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunBinh Le, left, and Cheng Lor are the owners of the Sky Azure restaurant in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunPassengers enter the new security area for Concourses B and C.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunSofia Stewart, 9, practices gymnastics as she waits at the airport with her parents, Christopher and Tammi Stewart (not pictured) after their flight from BWI to Mexico was canceled after a February snowstorm.
Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock TaylorBryan Erb of Baltimore and his one year old daughter Brinley walk along the window in the observation area at BWI airport.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore SunThis is a view of a Southwest Airlines jet from the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
Kim Hairston, Baltimore SunThe old security checkpoint for Concourse C at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is closed.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun
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Paul J. Wiedefeld, CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, in the newly renovated BWI Observation Gallery.
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JetBlue Airways is giving a little lift to the federal government shutdown with a plan to “Keep Bills Moving” in Washington.
The airline is offering to give fliers with the name “Bill” a faster trip through security at airports in Baltimore, Washington and Virginia.
JetBlue passengers who have “Bill” – or any version of it – on their official identification will receive Ever More Speed passes that will usher them to the “quickest possible lane” for security screening.
“Whatever our personal politics are, we’d all like to see good legislation moving through Washington,” said Marty St. George, senior vice president marketing and commercial strategy for JetBlue. “JetBlue is doing our part to keep ‘Bills’ moving by offering them an Even More Speed pass through security. And because we’re not picky we’ll take any ‘Bill’ – Bill, Billy, William, Willa, Billie – heck, we’ll even offer it to Guillermos and Willems!”
To get your pass, customers named “Bill” must present government-issued ID and a boarding pass at the JetBlue ticket counter. All parties traveling on the same reservation with “Bill” will also receive speed passes.
The promotion continues at BWI-Marshall, Reagan National and Dulles International airports through Oct. 31.
