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Charlotte / Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, USA, is to benefit from a $400 million overhaul during 2009, which is intended to improve the airport’s competitiveness over other airports in the region.

Improvements include:

Construction of 2 new taxiway bridges
Installing better storm drains
Expansion of the terminal entrance
Expansion of the road system and car parks
Extra security checkpoints
Improved baggage facilities.

Since 1997 passenger numbers at the airport have increased steadily by 59% and last year totalled 33.2 million.
Passengers who stand to benefit from the improvements are ultimately being asked to pay for them – each passenger now pays a $3 facility charge per flight.

BusinessFirst Passengers with Continental Airlines will soon be feeling the benefits of lie flat beds on certain flights. Continental has announced it has plans to launch the beds in its Boeing 767, Boeing 777 and Boeing 757 aircraft, which operate the transatlantic and transpacific routes.

Installation will begin on the 757 aircraft in 2010 and the beds will already be installed when Continental takes delivery of its 787’s.

According to the airline the lie flat beds will allow passengers to lie completely flat. Each will provide 6.5ft of flat sleeping space in the sully extended position. It will be one of the widest seats in the air and 25 inches, or 63 cm and will allow passengers to sleep more comfortably.

The airline also plans to provide more storage space for personal items and will include laptop power, USB plugs and iPod connectivity.