• Joseph Paul Malandrino, Jr. replaces Arnold Cole as the new Federal Security Director at BWI. Prior to his role at BWI, Mr. Malandrino managed the operations department at Washington Dulles-International Airport, with responsibility for airport security.
• The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) announces BWI as a winner of the 2002 Perpetual Pavement Award. To qualify for this prestigious award, a pavement must meet strict criteria and demonstrate Hot Mix Asphalt’s long-life characteristics, excellence in design, quality in construction and value to the traveling public. It also must have been constructed at least 35 years ago.
• Air Tran Airways begins non-stop service between BWI and Freeport International Airport on Grand Bahama Island. This is the only service linking Grand Bahama Island to the nation’s capital.
• Southwest begins transcontinental service from BWI to San Diego and San Jose.
• Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. welcomes the return of Aer Lingus to BWI. The Irish national airline begins once daily round trip flight from BWI to Ireland’s Shannon and Dublin Airports.
• Hooters Air celebrates inaugural flight from BWI to Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• BWI earns top honors at annual Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Excellence in Marketing and Communications Contest in the categories of Photography, Public Relations Campaigns and Television Advertising. BWI also awarded second place in the Marketing Campaigns category and third place for Color Print Advertising.
• Rest and Recuperation Leave Program begins at BWI for Operation Iraqi Freedom service members and Department of Defense civilians. The program allows members on 12-month orders to take a 15-day break from the mission with free air travel to the United States and Europe.
• The BWI Airport Fire and Rescue Department receives the 2003 American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Valor Award. BWI’s nomination for the national honor was based on their superb performance over a 12-month period, in 2002 and 2003, when the department responded to an airfield record of 2,726 calls.
• BWI’s first of three skywalks opens to the public. The skywalk at Concourse D connects the Airport terminal with Level 6 of the Hourly Garage. The skywalk provides quick, safe and convenient access to and from the main terminal.
• BWI opens $134.8 million Consolidated Rental Car Facility, centralizing the operations of eight different national rental car companies. The 47,000-square-foot customer service building and 22-acre parking garage simplifies the system of getting travelers to and from their rental cars.