Ouboy79 From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 3993 posts, RR: 23 Posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1283 times:
Trying to get some opinions here, so if you have one please chime in.
Roughly 10 years ago a name change was proposed to drop the existing name, Toledo Express Airport in favor of something less restrictive. Today, it appears that movement is slowly underway again. Then and now I am proposing the name "Glass City International Airport" to be adopted in the near future. Several reasons why I believe the name fits and should change...
- Glass City: represents the title the city wears
- International: brings attention to customs services but also the reach of the air cargo hub TOL has...flights to Mexico, Canada, and also Sydney Australia are regular - SYD has a tech stop in HNL. There is also a new cold storage and other facilities that will be used to lure new nonstop services to South America and Asia. The airport also brings one stop/connection service to international destinations for passengers.
Personally, the current name "Toledo Express Airport" is stuck too far in the past. Today, people relate Express to commuter props and other small puddle jumpers. Not services that offer nonstop, medium size jet service to places like Orlando and Las Vegas. I also feel the name promotes a small, negative image when compared against airports such as Ft. Wayne Int'l Airport, Flint-Bishop Int'l Airport, Dayton Int'l, and Akron-Canton Regional. Yes, Akron doesn't have Int'l in its name...but the name doesn't make you think turboprop right away either.
So what are your thoughts? Toledo Express or another name?
Any opinion/comment posted is that of my own and not that of Southwest Airlines Co.
Tan flyr From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1847 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1222 times:
Wouldn't something a bit more encompassing such as "Northwest Ohio Metropolitan" or Metro Toledo/NW Ohio Regional" be better?
Off the top of my head I can't think of an airport named for a cities' moniker.
(Big Apple Int'l, Windy City Int'l, Shaky town Int'l).
Good luck with the process.
AZO From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 765 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (9 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1203 times:
I think TOL is a little too close to DTW to be known as "Metro" or "Metropolitan." Things might get a little confusing, especially considering TOL can kind of be considered a Detroit-area airport.
Flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1136 times:
There are many different things that differ TOL from FNT. Major issue that is the TOL terminal is somewhat out of date and is kind of cramped (especially operations rooms). In FNT, the terminal is very modern, spacious and not to mention BEAUTIFUL. I believe that FNT has 10 gates while TOL has only 8. When TransMeridian starts service daily to SFB, TOL will have a total of 38 daily flights while FNT has 33. CAK only has 2 more flights then TOL yet has 800 more seats a day. TOL does have a slight edge on FNT with 8 destinations to 6 (off of the top of my head).
Glass City International will go well with the terminal once the new terminal is done. The whole front side is supposed to be nothing but glass with a bunch of glass elsewhere throughout the terminal...They are supposed to add gates up from the exisint 8 to total as many as 15. Just need to get the mainline airplanes back into here, then TOL pax will come back. I don't like Toledo Metro either because of the stated above reason of Detroit Metro.
DTWNWA From United States of America, joined May 2003, 171 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1123 times:
15 gates!! Wow!! When is the expansion set to complete?
DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 38 Reply 7, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1127 times:
How about "Jamie Farr International Airport?"
"Glass City International" sounds good, but my only concern is that it might sound too obviously promotional--i.e. "we really do something here in Toledo." For instance Traverse City's "Cherry Capital Airport" tells you something about Traverse City, but it suggests a small city that's trying to get itself known. Toledo is a bigger and better-known city than TC is.
I like "Toledo-Northwest Ohio International" best. Maybe change the IATA code to "TNW" to emphasize the regional aspect.
DTWNWA From United States of America, joined May 2003, 171 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1109 times:
HlywdCatft From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5321 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1095 times:
Flyinryan99 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 11 Reply 10, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1073 times:
That's a good observation Jim...didn't look at it that way. What I like about the Glass City International is that it brings out the nickname for the city of Toledo "The Glass City". We could always put it up for bid and see if some company would buy the naming rights like a stadium...lol....J/K Anyways, it could be called many different things bringing out something unique about the airport.
Expansion hasn't begun but things are definitely in the works and it's sounding really nice. It would entail taking a wrecking ball to the west wing and building a practically whole new facility over there. Once again these are all plans right now, but soon they are going to need some gates to try and attract new carriers so this would be a good area to start. I haven't heard any dates as to when this would start or end.....dfw would know more.
ModernArt From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1058 times:
Nothing personal to the Toledo folks, but if someone mentioned a city with the nickname "Glass City," Corning, NY would be the first city that would come to mind.
If a name change is due, perhaps honoring a famous Toledo native would be better - Toledo "Name" Int'l Airport.
I kind of like Toledo Express, it flows off the tongue and from a marketing perspective its succinct and recognizable.
MxCtrlr From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 2485 posts, RR: 40 Reply 12, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1047 times:
How about Maumee International Airport (KMAU), or Mudhead International (KMUD)? Personally, I like Toledo Express (maybe just add in "International")
MxCtrlr
Freight Dogs Anonymous - O.O.T.S.K.
DAMN! This SUCKS! I just had to go to the next higher age bracket in my profile! :-(
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 13, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1019 times:
The reason for Glass City is the HUGE history that Toledo shares with Libby glass company!
Acidradio From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 1855 posts, RR: 11 Reply 14, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 971 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
Maxwell Q. Klinger Toledo Intl. Airport (KTOL). That's what I think of when I hear of Toledo, OH.
Ouboy79 From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 3993 posts, RR: 23 Reply 15, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 937 times:
ModernArt - Its nothing personal...just depends if you are from that part of the country you may not know any better. Toledo was given the nickname as well as Glass Capital of the World with the headquarters of Libbey Glass, Owens Corning, Owens Illinois, and Libbey-Owens-Ford (now part of Pilkington, north American HQ is still downtown). Though Corning, NY does have their share of the lime light as well.
TanFlyr - I agree with the comments, Metro would add to the confusion with Detroit.
Jim - If Jamie Farr's name is put on the airport, I think the staff at all the airlines will hang themselves. LOL Spend an hour in TOL and count the number of times you hear "This is Toledo's own Jamie Farr..." (IOW, he was recorded for the security announcements).
Now about the airport expansion it will come in phases. The master plan was completed 6 months ago and bids are going out and being accepted.
- A new $200k FIDS system will be installed later this year.
- The new control tower is at the second to last step to go to construction (FAA simulation). Once it clears that bids will go out to designers and construction companies. We should see the new tower up in the next 2 years.
- The new terminal (http://www.flytoledo.com) will come in phases. I have been told initial construction on the terminal will start next year with major construction on the new west wing in 2005. It will be expanded from 3 to 5 gates (3 bridges and 2 lower level gates - as of now). The central part will remain with 2 bridges and the east wing will go from 3 to 4 (2 bridges and 2 lower level) gates. Now these are just from the computer generated graphics, I haven't see the actual blue prints yet. Therefore the end numbers of gates will likely be much greater with expansion flexibility.
So far this year the new landscaping project is almost done and the parking lot upgrades complete. They will be installing a new road side display sign for the airport later this year, early next - hence the reason why I think it may be best to change the name now rather then later.
Any opinion/comment posted is that of my own and not that of Southwest Airlines Co.
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