DATE:  July 23, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT:  Greg Meyer
PHONE: 954-359-6116
EMAIL: gmeyer@broward.org

BROWARD COUNTY, FL -The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) honored Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) as 2014-15 Airport of the Year. The award recognizes FLL's outstanding commitment to engaging with airline pilots during construction of the new South Runway. The 10R/28L elevated runway, which opened on September 18, 2014, is part of the airport's improvements program to reduce delays and meet future growth.

"The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport team clearly understood that any runway construction, but especially a unique, elevated runway, requires full involvement of the airline pilots who will ultimately use it," said Captain Tim Canoll, ALPA's president. "Right from the start, the airport welcomed ALPA pilots' expertise and feedback on issues ranging from the nonstandard approach light spacing and airspace changes to sharing information with pilots about the progress of construction."

JetBlue pilots flew the first plane to land on the new 8,000-foot elevated South Runway, which became fully operational on November 22, 2014. The new runway (10R/28L) lies on the south side of the airport and runs parallel to an existing 9,000-foot runway. It is built on a bridge-like structure on its eastern end to allow U.S. Route 1 and a freight railway line to pass under it.

"ALPA commends Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for involving airline pilots in the runway construction to ensure that what makes sense on paper also makes sense in the cockpit," said Captain Canoll. "We congratulate Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for taking a team approach to the runway construction to help achieve the highest possible safety standards for the millions of passengers and cargo shippers who depend on air transportation in South Florida."

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is ranked 21st in the United States in total passenger traffic with about 24.6 million passengers traveling through the airport annually. With more than 300 departure and 300 arrival flights a day, the airport offers nonstop service to more than 100 U.S. cities as well as international destinations.

"The Broward County Aviation Department proudly accepts this prestigious award from ALPA," said Doug Webster, deputy director, for the Broward County Aviation Department. "With the recent construction at FLL with a new runway, taxiways, and terminals communication and coordination with the pilots was a critical component of our plans to ensure that we maintain a safe environment."

ALPA's Airport and Ground Environment Group selects the Airport of the Year from nominations made by ALPA's regional airport safety chairmen and airport safety liaisons who represents pilots' interests at more than 150 airports in the United States and Canada. Nominations range from small regional airports to some of the busiest airports in the world, but all nominees share a common commitment to the highest safety standards.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing more than 52,000 pilots at 31 airlines in the United States and Canada.

Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.

For updates on airport programs and services, follow us on Twitter@FLLFlyer or visit fll.net.