SFO's Community Newsletter | Volume 7 Number 1, 2010

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Guten Tag Düsseldorf!

JetBlue Kicks Off the New Year with Expanded Service from SFO

WestJet's Service Takes Off at SFO

Flight Arrivals: New Service at SFO

SFO Rings in the New Year with Two "Best Of" Nods

SFO Hosts Green Fleet Expo for Northern California Airports

Tweeting for a Trip: SFO, Boston Logan and Virgin America Hold Twitter Trivia Competition

Operation Chihuahua Lifts Off from SFO

SFO Movie Night Celebrates Aviation Pioneer Pancho Barnes

SFO Celebrates the 300th Anniversary of Meissen Porcelain with Exhibition and Lecture

Air Berlin begins non-stop SFO-DUS service on May 12

Guten Tag Düsseldorf!

Beginning May 12, 2010, Air Berlin will connect San Francisco to Düsseldorf, Germany, offering the first direct service from SFO to the fashion and cultural center on the Rhine. Twice weekly non-stop service will be available, with round-trip fares starting as low as $805.

Feeder flights to destinations including Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Vienna and Zurich are also available.

“SFO is California’s most convenient gateway to Europe, with dozens of flights weekly to all major European airports,” said John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “Air Berlin’s added service allows us to offer even more options to Germany and beyond.”

The new service is expected to have a positive effect on the Bay Area economy. "We look forward to welcoming the additional visitors Air Berlin's new non-stop service will bring to San Francisco," said Joe D'Alessandro, President and CEO for the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. "With more than 200,000 annual visitors to San Francisco, Germany continues to be one of the most important source markets for our city."

“Air Berlin GmbH 7 Co. Luftverkehrs KG,” which grew out of Air Berlin Inc., an airline founded in 1978, started to operate flights in 1992 with two Boeing jets and 150 employees. By 2003, the company was the second largest airline in Germany. Today, its fleet extends to 129 aircraft flying to 154 destinations within Germany, Europe and throughout the world.

To learn more about the airline, visit www.airberlin.com.

JetBlue Kicks Off the New Year with Expanded Service from SFO

JetBlue Airways logo JetBlue has expanded its service from San Francisco International Airport by adding a second daily flight to Boston’s Logan International Airport, a second daily flight to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, and two more daily flights to Long Beach’s Daugherty Field. These new services bring JetBlue’s total operations at SFO to 11 flights every day.

“JetBlue is proud to be expanding in San Francisco to give our loyal customers more flight options to their favorite destinations,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue's Chief Commercial Officer. “What could be better for travelers than more JetBlue flights with more legroom in coach, unlimited free snacks and drinks, and more free live entertainment choices than the other guys, not to mention some of the industry's most celebrated customer service?”

“The continued expansion of JetBlue service from SFO to both regional and national destinations is great news for our passengers,” said John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “With more options and more choices of destinations, types of service, and costs of airfare, San Francisco International Airport clearly remains Northern California’s ‘ Airport of Choice.’”

For additional information regarding JetBlue's new flights, please visit www.jetblue.com.

WestJet's Service Takes Off at SFO

SFO is pleased to welcome back WestJet. The low-cost Canadian carrier will return to San Francisco May 2 with daily non-stop service to Calgary and thrice-weekly non-stop service to Edmonton. WestJet will also add one daily flight to Vancouver on June 28 for a total of 17 weekly flights to Canada. The seasonal service is available through October 30. Flights will operate on WestJet’s Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, which offer increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV.

WestJet was founded in 1996 as a Western Canadian regional carrier with three aircrafts flying to five cities. Today, WestJet offers scheduled service to 67 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

For more information about WestJet, please visit www.westjet.com.

Flight Arrivals: New Service at SFO

Destination	New Flights	Effective Date	Notes
Montreal	7 / week	May 2	seasonal service: daily service through October 31
Toronto	7 / week	May 2	seasonal service: fourth daily flight through October 31
Frankfurt	7 / week	March 28	second daily flight for summer season
London	7 / week	March 28	reinstatement of second daily flight
Tokyo	7 / week	March 28	reinstatement of second daily flight

SFO Rings in the New Year with Two "Best Of" Nods

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) kicks off the new decade with two “Best of Decade” awards from the San Francisco Chronicle. SFO’s International Terminal and "You Are Hear," SFO’s live music program, were both listed by the San Francisco Chronicle in decade top-ten wrap ups.

“What a wonderful way to end the decade,” said John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “From the International Terminal to ‘You Are Hear,’ for the past ten years, we’ve been striving to implement programs that make traveling easier, more convenient and more enjoyable for our passengers.”

SFO's International Terminal SFO kicked off the last decade with the opening of the International Terminal in December 2000. It remains one of the country’s most modern terminals boasting an aviation museum, permanent and rotating art displays, high-end retail, a wide variety of local eateries, and gates to accommodate the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane.

In his article covering the "Decade in review: Top 10 in S. F. architecture," John King, Urban Design Writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote :

Architect Craig Hartman of Skidmore Owings & Merrill received acclaim last year for his Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, but the departure hall he designed for SFO's newest building inspires its own form of contemplative awe. Despite the vast dimensions - 700 feet long, 200 feet deep and 83 feet high - there's a silvery calm to the space, topped by an elegant procession of bowed trusses and warmed by a rear wall of red cherry wood.

You Are Hear logo SFO closed out the decade with the launch of "You Are Hear," a live music program featuring dozens of the Bay Area’s best musicians. Located at points throughout the Airport’s terminals, live bands and musicians serenade passengers during the summer months and winter holidays.

In his selection of the "10 high notes from Bay Area decade in music," Aiden Vaziri, Pop Music Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote :

With weekly security alerts, going to the airport became a grim affair. San Francisco International Airport's marketing department set out to change that when they tapped local musician Marc Capelle to curate a series of concerts throughout the terminals during the hectic holiday season, billed as You Are Hear, offering weary travelers and airport employees a little rock 'n' roll therapy.

We look forward to providing passengers with more travel highlights throughout the new decade.

SFO Hosts Green Fleet Expo for Northern California Airports

Alternative-fuel vehicles on view at the Green Fleet Expo

On January 27, 2010, Northern California’s commercial service airports – San Francisco International, Oakland International, Mineta-San Jose International, Sacramento International, and Fresno-Yosemite International – teamed-up at SFO’s Aviation Museum for a green fleet workshop and exposition to educate the aviation community on alternative-fuel vehicle policies, technology and funding opportunities. CALSTART, a leading clean transportation technologies consortium, developed and produced the event to highlight regulations affecting vehicles that serve airports.

The event featured a display of alternative-fuel vehicles used at airports such as taxis, shuttles, vans, work trucks, and aircraft ground support equipment. Providers of alternative-fuel infrastructure and diesel retrofit devices were also on site.

“Being a responsible steward of the environment has long been one of San Francisco International Airport’s guiding principles,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “SFO’s commitment to environmental programs has been well-documented (continued expansion of alternative-fueled vehicles at SFO; the installation of solar panels on our facilities; the creation of the first “green” rental car incentive program in the country, just to name a few). As a result of this clear and longstanding commitment to the environment, SFO is extremely honored to host such an important and wonderfully collaborative event.”

California airports are working, both individually and collaboratively, on opportunities to improve air quality by using cleaner-burning alternative fuels in their fleets. Together, they received a Diesel Emissions Reduction grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2008. The grant funded the retrofit or replacement of heavy-duty vehicles at SFO, OAK, San Diego, and Los Angeles airports. CALSTART is the grant applicant and administrator on behalf of the airports.

“We are excited about our collaboration with the largest California airports,” said CALSTART CEO John Boesel. “It’s the first step in what we hope will be a long-term partnership. Airports by their nature are major sources of ground-based emissions but these airports are really stepping up and addressing them in a coordinated manner.”

Tweeting for a Trip: SFO, Boston Logan and Virgin America Hold Twitter Trivia Competition

Which two Bay Area college teammates became Boston basketball legends?* What do Arianna Huffington, Richard Branson and MC Hammer all have in common?** For one week in December, trivia fans tweeted answers to these, and similar questions, in a bid to win a trip for two to either Boston or San Francisco, courtesy of Virgin America and Four Seasons hotels.

The contest teamed up San Francisco International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and Virgin America for a first-of-its-kind Twitter trivia competition to promote Virgin America’s new non-stop service between San Francisco and Boston. Each day from December 7 through December 11, trivia questions related to San Francisco and Boston were posted on the @SFOgal; @BostonLogan; @VirginAmerica; @FSBoston; and @FSSanFrancisco Twitter feeds. Contestants answered back to a special contest hashtag, and the first three correct answers to each question were entered into a drawing for the grand prize, as well as great runner-up prizes.

“We were one of the first airports to Twitter, launching @SFOgal last year as a new way of communicating with our customers,” said John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “Boston Logan and Virgin America have great Twitter feeds with big followings, and we wanted to engage all of our customers in a fun way to promote the new non-stop service.”

Be sure to follow SFOGal on Twitter for the latest news, events and promotions from SFO.

*K.C. Jones and Bill Russell
**All flew on Virgin America's inaugural Orange County flight

Operation Chihuahua Lifts Off from SFO

On January 6, 2010, 15 Chihuahuas walked the red carpet onto an awaiting Virgin America flight to New York-JFK, beginning their journey to new homes in the East Coast. Dubbed "Operation Chihuahua,” the flight was part of an effort through which San Francisco’s hometown airline, Virgin America, assisted the City of San Francisco Animal Care and Control (SFACC) in relocating the dogs from San Francisco to New York so that they can be adopted into loving new homes.

Currently, a massive overpopulation of Chihuahuas in California is forcing animal shelters on the West Coast to look to shelters on the East Coast – where there is demand for the dogs—for help. The SFACC asked Virgin America to spare a seat to New York for Chihuahuas who might not otherwise have found homes in California. Virgin America teammates volunteered to escort the little dogs on the flights east. An SFACC staff veterinarian also accompanied the group.

“We’re pleased to help San Francisco Animal Care and Control fly these little guys out to the East Coast so they can be placed in adoptive homes,” said Ross Bonanno, Vice President of Airports and Guest Services at Virgin America. “As the only airline headquartered here in San Francisco, we take a great interest in our community – and many of our teammates and guests are dog lovers, so of course, we just had to do this.”

Virgin America sent the dogs off in high-style with doggie treats and toys, while guests onboard the flight received champagne cocktail “Chi-mosas” and cupcakes. Upon arrival in New York, the dogs were received by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®). After some post-travel rest and relaxation, the dogs were made available for adoption at the ASPCA in Manhattan.

For more information about Operation Chihuahua, visit the San Francisco Animal Care and Control website at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/acc_index.asp.

SFO Movie Night Celebrates Aviation Legend Pancho Barnes

Legend of Pancho Barnes movie poster On February 4, 2010, more than 100 attendees joined SFO for the airport's first ever Movie Night. Held in the Aviation Museum and Library, the free event featured the San Francisco premiere of the documentary The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club . Film Producer and Writer Nick Spark was on hand to introduce the movie and lead a discussion on the making of the documentary. Patrick Sullivan, the son of famed flier Elinore Smith, a contemporary of Pancho Barnes’, commented on the women aviators of the period and some of the conditions they faced. Dr. Louis D’Elia and Mike Salazar of the Pancho Barnes Estate also attended and added to the discussion. Prior to the feature film, the audience was treated to a short preview of film in progress A Pilot’s Story and a personal appearance by its co-producer and director Will Hawkins of Wilco Films.

The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club tells the story of Florence "Pancho" Barnes, an ill-behaved woman who made history, and whose life story is the stuff of legend. Pancho was the first woman stunt pilot in Hollywood and broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record in 1930. In the 1940s and '50s she hosted the fastest pilots in the world—the men with the "right stuff"—at her Happy Bottom Riding Club guest ranch.

"We are delighted to host the San Francisco premiere of The Legend of Pancho Barnes," said John L. Martin, San Francisco International Airport Director. "SFO is part of the community, and this event allows us to invite the public over for an evening of entertainment while presenting a story that reminds us of the amazing personalities who have shaped the world of aviation."

Please visit www.flysfo.com for more information regarding community events at SFO.

SFO Celebrates the 300th Anniversary of Meissen Porcelain with Exhibition and Lecture

Eagle-spout teapot and cover Evolution of a Royal Vision: The Birth of Meissen Porcelain, on view at San Francisco International Airport from April 2 through September 13, 2010, features a magnificent collection of more than one hundred pieces of eighteenth-century Meissen porcelain and includes many Chinese and Japanese ceramics from the collection of Augustus the Strong, which served as an inspiration for Meissen factory production. The exhibition traces the history of early European hard-paste porcelain development, design, and innovation, and coincides with the 300-year anniversary of the Meissen Porcelain Factory.

In conjunction with this exhibition, a lecture by Collector Malcolm Gutter, Reinventing Porcelain: Celebrating the Meissen Manufactory’s Tricentennial, will be held on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum (ALM) located in the International Terminal, Departure Level. Admission to the lecture is free. Please contact Ramekon O’Arwisters at Ramekon.O'Arwisters@flysfo.com for additional information.

Developed during the Tang Dynasty (617–906) in China, porcelain was first introduced to Europe in the fourteenth century. Porcelain was greatly admired by Europeans for its beauty, durability, translucence, and delicate appearance. Trade among China and Europe increased during the 1600s, and porcelain became a highly desirable luxury item. The proper clay combinations and firing temperatures required for “true” or hard-paste porcelain remained a puzzle to Europeans. Although attempts were made for decades, no authentic porcelain emerged from European kilns. As late as 1700, porcelain could only be obtained from China and Japan.

Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682–1719) and Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus (1651–1708)—the former a respected scientist, the latter an alchemist —discovered the secret of making hard-paste porcelain in 1709. This discovery led Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, to establish a porcelain factory just outside Dresden in Meissen in 1710—the first establishment to produce the coveted porcelain in all of Europe.

Of special interest in the exhibition is an exceptionally large baluster vase, one of Meissen’s greatest masterpieces, comparable to the best blue-and-white wares of the Yuan and early Ming dynasties (1279-1644). Another one of Meissen’s most iconic pieces, an exquisite gilded eagle-spout teapot is also on display. Additionally on view is a tea bowl with figures from New Amsterdam (New York) in the 1600s, probably representing the earliest depiction of Americans on European porcelain. The exhibition also features pieces from the Swan Service—the most famous dinnerware ever produced at Meissen.

Evolution of a Royal Vision: The Birth of Meissen Porcelain will be located pre-security in the International Terminal Main Hall. There is no charge to view the exhibition.

All objects are from the collection of Malcolm D. Gutter.