Airport Voice
JULY 2021 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM NEW YORK'S AIRPORT COMMUNITY
SALUTE TO OUR
ESSENTIAL TROOPS
Airport costs sky high
Pandemic business hurdles
HTA, Min wage, Airport fees
BY JEFF YAPALATER
The JFK Airport Chamber of Commerce,
TFAC, and KAAMCO have come
together to seek a postponement of the
upcoming minimum wage increase in
September, the clarification and deferral
of the current health care cost for certain
employees, and reduction of part proposed
airline fees. In a rare combined
effort, these three major JFK Airport
organizations understand the powerful
economic impact these three increases
will have on their businesses.
The airline fees are regularly increased
twice a year while the minimum
wage increases are annual having begun
at $10.45 in 2018 and reaching $19
per hour in 2023. The Healthy Terminals
Act (HTA) is a new state law supported
by the Port and labor unions requiring
certain employers to pay for health insurance
on top of the minimum wage increase.
All these increases will eventually
find their way to the airlines, which
are the cash cow of the airports. They
bring the travelers to the terminals from
which all service companies at the airports
ply their living through one service
or another; many intertwined that cannot
exist without the other.
The airlines have been bleeding millions
daily since Covid in early 2020, and
are just beginning to see an increase in
air travel because of the vaccine and
safety steps taken by all stakeholders to
minimize the spread of Covid.
All these companies also are the employer
of close to 45, 000 worker at JFK
alone. Add another 25,000 or more with
Newark and LaGuardia. A significant
percentage of these workers fall into the
minimum wage category. Some belong
to unions and may belong to SEIU 32B
which was instrumental in bringing the
HTA to life.
JFK Port Authority Veterans Honored for their Service. (L-R) ARFF Officer McLaughlin (U.S.Marines), JFK General Manager Charles Everett
(U.S. Air Force), MES Reginald Early (U.S. Navy Bosun's Mate), Electrical Supervisor Kerry Griffin (U.S.Air Force), General Maintenance
Sephen Moore (U.S. Navy), ARFF Officer Bobe (U.S. Marines), Electrician Arfan Habibullah (U.S. Marines). Photo by Jeff Yapalater
JFK General Manager Charles Everett was a commissioned
officer in the Air Force serving as as logistic and
transportation planner preparing people to go to war, he said.
“I honor the people who served in the military, who took
time out of their careers and lives to give of themselves for the
greater good. They served others and people who served in
the military seem to continue to serve for the common good.
Here at the airport they really put out. They are essential
workers, making sure people fly safetly, goods are moved efficiently.
I salute them”
See more page 30 Special Tribute Section begins on page 14
Rendering of the planned Aeroterm cargo building at JFK
with prime tenant WFS
NEW AEROTERM CARGO FACILITY AT JFK APPROVED
Airport, Queens workers and residents to benefit
After many years of the initial concept and numerous
hurdles the Port Authority announced the signing of a longterm
ground lease agreement with Aeroterm for the development
of a state-of-the-art $145 million, 350,000-squarefoot
cargo facility on more than 26 acres at JFK Airport. At
a time when air cargo has been most important for serving
as a lifeline of health and needed goods during the past 15
months of pandemic, this development will grow the capacity
of air cargo from around the world to JFK.
The first new cargo facilities built at JFK in two decades
brings 21st-century standards to cargo operations to JFK.
“This project is a key step in revitalizing JFK’s air cargo
sector, and we are proud to work alongside the visionary
Port Authority executive team,” said Aeroterm Vice President
for Development Greg Russell.
The building’s main lease holder. Worldwide Fight Services
(WFS), is scheduled to operate exclusively out of the
350,000-square-foot facility.
See more page 37
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