Philadelphia International (PHL) kicked off its summerlong Just Plane Fun program.
The Philadelphia-themed event on June 21 was opened by airport CEO Mark Gale and included a performance by a Mummer-style string band, an appearance by the city’s own Ben Franklin and Tastykake mascot Kirby the Krimpet, makeovers by The Body Shop, a pottery demonstration and a putting contest by the PGA Tour Shop.
Until Sept. 13, PHL travelers will be offered live entertainment, food and beverage samplings, artist demonstrations and children’s activities, as well as education and informational displays. The airport will also offer the Passenger Chillin’ Zone, a living room-style area in the Terminal C intersection where passengers can relax in a cushioned chair or sofa while awaiting their flight.
“Summer is always a busy time for travel, and Just Plane Fun is our way of making our customers’ time at the airport more pleasant and relaxing, and also to thank them for choosing Philadelphia International Airport,” Gale says. “Just Plane Fun was very well received last summer, and we are excited to offer it again this summer. The program could not be successful without the participation of many airport tenants, airlines and associates, and I would like to thank all of them for their efforts in making Just Plane Fun great for our customers.”
The summerlong event will culminate in a drawing Sept. 13, the program’s end date, with a raffle. All summer, ticketed passengers can fill out entry forms, located at all post-security airport information counters. Winners need not be present to win. Prizes include airline tickets, courtesy of Air Jamaica, Southwest Airlines and US Airways; $5,000 in American Express gift cards, courtesy of Avis/Budget Rent-A-Car; gift cards for airport shops, courtesy of Marketplace Philadelphia; iPads, courtesy of Enterprise Rent-A-Car; a one-night stay at the Airport Marriott Hotel, courtesy of the Airport Marriott Hotel; one hour complimentary passes to the Minute Suites, courtesy of Minute Suites; a Bose home theatre surround sound system, courtesy of Clear Channel Airports; and a Philadelphia International rocking chair, courtesy of PHL. More information on the raffle is available on the airport’s website, www.phl.org.
In other PHL news…
The airport will be unveiling a photo exhibit, “Tuskegee Airmen: 70 Years of Aviation History,” on June 30 in Terminal A-East.
The exhibit is a photo essay showing the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Images include the first class of 13 cadets, glimpses into their training as military pilots and their accomplishments as war heros. The airmen earned numerous honors for their performance and heroism and are also credited as a driving force that ended segregation in the armed forces.
Some of the men will be attending the event, including Roscoe Draper, John Harrison, Bertram Levy, Henry Moore, Pierce Ramsey and Eugene Richardson.
