New Restrooms Make BWI Marshall the Only Airport in Annual Competition

(July 11, 2023) – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has been selected as a finalist in the 2023 America’s Best Restroom contest, sponsored by Cintas Corporation. According to Cintas, the 22nd annual competition celebrates businesses that develop and maintain innovative restroom facilities. The public is invited to vote for their favorite finalist at BestRestroom.com.

BWI Marshall is the only airport among the contest finalists. The competition highlights the airport’s new restrooms on Concourse B that opened this spring as part of a broad program to modernize and enhance restroom facilities throughout the terminal. The $55 million program is expanding and improving restrooms on Concourses B, C and D.

“This recognition highlights our commitment to providing a positive passenger experience and outstanding facilities,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. “Since opening this spring, our new restrooms have generated positive feedback from customers. We believe clean and inviting restrooms play a crucial role in making travel more enjoyable.”

BWI Marshall Airport’s new set of restrooms on Concourse B offer impeccable standards, sophisticated design and the seamless integration of modern technology. The new facilities are bright, spacious and comfortable. Solid materials provide clean, sanitary surfaces. Customer amenities include added space for stowing roller bags, along with full height stalls and doors. The new restrooms feature innovative technology such as occupancy lights for the stalls and sensors to inform custodial staff when supplies need to be refilled. The facilities include exterior honeycomb core windows that provide natural light to the open areas of the restroom while also ensuring privacy.

“These finalists take pride in going above and beyond to provide clean, thoughtful and well-designed restrooms,” said Julia Walsh, Marketing Manager for Cintas. “We encourage the public to show their support for them by voting for their favorites now through August 11.”

Copa Starts Service to Panama, with Easy Connections Across Latin America

(June 28, 2023) – Copa Airlines, based in Panama City, today launched new international service between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Panama City, Panama. The carrier offers four weekly flights between BWI Marshall and Panama. The new service will offer efficient connections to destinations across Latin America.

“We are thrilled to welcome Copa Airlines to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, and to celebrate this new nonstop service to Panama,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of BWI Marshall Airport. “We are confident that this partnership will foster tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between our two regions.”

“BWI Thurgood Marshall has built an outstanding reputation for convenient, friendly, and reliable service, and we look forward to delivering this exceptional service to customers to and from Panama City,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This is a win for Maryland, for our BWI Marshall team and for travelers in America and abroad.”

The airline will utilize Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the new route. Copa Airlines operates an average of 300 daily flights through its Hub of the Americas, located at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. BWI Marshall is the 14th U.S. destination for Copa Airlines.

“The launch of this new route to Baltimore strengthens Copa’s position as a major player in connecting the Americas, effectively bridging distances and fostering connectivity across the Americas,” said Dennis Cary, Sr. Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Copa Airlines. “This new route opens up exciting tourism opportunities for travelers in the Baltimore area to explore dozens of destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, while also promoting commercial exchange between regions.”

The new service from Copa Airlines comes as airline and passenger traffic continue to rebound at BWI Marshall. In recent months, passenger traffic has routinely approached levels not seen since before the global pandemic. Airline seat capacity for the summer is expected to grow more than 10% from last year and is projected to nearly match the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. The busiest day at BWI Marshall Airport since the start of the pandemic was recorded this month, on June 16, with 34,984 departing passengers.

Travelers Encouraged to Plan Ahead and Arrive Early;
Airport Parking May Reach Capacity

(May 25, 2023) –  Summer travel is expected to heat up at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport this year. As passenger volumes continue to rise, travelers are reminded to arrive at the airport early and be prepared for heavy passenger volumes.

“There is strong demand for airline travel, and we are working with our partners to help provide a convenient, positive experience for our customers,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. “We expect this to be one of our busiest summers ever, starting with the Memorial Day weekend.”

Travelers flying from BWI Marshall Airport should give themselves plenty of time for airline check-in and the security checkpoint process. Customers should plan to arrive in the airport terminal two hours prior to scheduled domestic departure, with additional time allotted for international flights.

Passengers are advised to allow for additional time if using the airport’s parking shuttles to access the terminal, as shuttle delays are possible. On-airport parking may be scarce at certain peak periods during the holiday weekend. If parking reaches capacity in specific lots, travelers will be directed to other BWI Marshall Airport parking facilities that offer free shuttle service to the airport terminal. Real-time parking and security checkpoint information is available on the airport’s website at www.BWIairport.com.

In recent months, passenger traffic has been routinely approaching levels not seen since before the global pandemic. Airline seat capacity at BWI Marshall in May is nearly flat from the same month in 2019, before the pandemic. In April, departing passenger traffic climbed 17% over the same period last year. The second busiest day at BWI Marshall Airport since the start of the pandemic was recorded earlier this month, on May 18, with 34,190 departing passengers.

Airlines continue to add or resume service at BWI Marshall. Last week, transatlantic service between BWI Marshall and Frankfurt, Germany returned for the summer with Condor’s four weekly flights. This month, Frontier Airlines also launched new service between BWI Marshall and Dallas/Fort Worth. Copa Airlines is slated to begin new international service between BWI Marshall and Panama in late June, offering easy connections across Latin America.

May 3rd, 2023

18 Properties to be Improved in First Phase of $35 Million, Multi-Year Program

The Maryland Board of Public Works today unanimously approved a contract to provide sound insulation treatments for 18 homes near Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The Board, chaired by Governor Wes Moore and including Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, approved the $1.1 million contract to improve homes in the approved noise mitigation contour as part of the BWI Marshall Airport Residential Sound Insulation Program.

“We take our role and responsibility of being a good neighbor very seriously,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of BWI Marshall Airport. “For over three decades, the Residential Sound Insulation Program has been one important component of our longstanding commitment to help mitigate the impact of aircraft operations on local communities. We are excited to expand this program.”

First created in 1988, the BWI Marshall Airport Residential Sound Insulation Program provides for mitigation of aircraft noise for eligible properties near the airport. Under this program, eligible homeowners may elect to have sound insulation improvements made to their residences.

Improvements may include acoustical windows and doors that are designed to help block noise, as well as insulation, sealant and other treatments approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. To date, BWI Marshall Airport has mitigated 750 local homes and four schools for approximately $80 million.

The construction contract approved by the Board today is the first phase of a $35 million, multi-year program that will ultimately improve more than 100 single family homes and more than 300 multi-family units in 17 buildings. Construction phasing is being planned for the additional local properties. The BWI Marshall Residential Sound Insulation improvements are largely funded by Federal Aviation Administration grants, along with additional support from passenger facility charges.