New Facebook url: facebook.com/airportcode

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Our new url is easy to remember (and type in):

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Australian magazine CIM features Sydney and Melbourne Air Wear travel products

CIM, the Australian magazine that caters to the convention, exhibition, and incentive planners markets, published a feature on Air Wear. The magazine's 16,000+ circulation got a peak at our Sydney travel bag, Melbourne t-shirt, and New York mug.

Cool airport needs cool products: Mestia, Georgie

We here at Air Wear love good design from products to architecture. We enjoyed Metropolis magazine's article on Mestia, Georgia's ski resort airport. Please find the article below. To get to Mestia, one flies into Krasnodar International Airport (airport code KRR) or Kopitnari Airport (KUT). We need to make some skis with these codes and hit the slopes.

By Michael Silverberg
Posted May 12, 2011

ARCHITECTS
J. Mayer H. / www.jmayerh.de
Mestia, Georgia

May–December romances are common enough, but who ever heard of August–December architecture? That was the unlikely life cycle of a small airport that opened on December 24 in Mestia, Georgia, an isolated ski town high in the Caucasus Mountains. Exactly four months earlier, on August 24, Jürgen Mayer H. was in Venice for the architecture biennale when he got a phone call from the Georgian goverment. The German architect, who has dedicated much of the last seven years to the Metropol Parasol—a wooden, mushroomlike complex that was finally completed this spring in Seville, Spain, after long delays—was asked to take on a building with a much shorter span. “They called and said, ‘We need an airport design tomorrow,’” he recalls. “‘Actually, yesterday, but tomorrow is OK too.”

That night, Mayer H. traded ideas with Jesko Malkolm Johnsson-Zahn, an architect in his Berlin office, sketching on paper and then sending photos of the drawings over his BlackBerry. By the next morning, they had settled on a form: a three-pronged, 3,000-square-foot folly arrayed like a chicken foot, with two slightly uplifted segments (for waiting areas and a café) on one side and a tower (for air-traffic control) on the other. The tinted-glass facade would be set between slabs of concrete, a locally favored material, making a modern-ist cake topped with a layer of white icing. The government approved, and construction began one month later.

Georgia hopes the airport will bring tourists to the mountainous region of Svaneti, whose stone towers and often impassible roads have made it a stronghold since the Middle Ages. (Those defensive towers, UNESCO World Heritage sites, helped inspire the vertical forms of the airport.) Driving from the capital, Tbilisi, takes as long as ten hours; the government-subsidized flights cut the trip to less than an hour. “Since we really want to promote this area as a touristic attraction, of course you need a good transportation possibility,” says Kate Aleksidze, the director of United Airports of Georgia. “If we would not manage to open it in December and opened it instead in June, people would be there, but we would miss the whole winter season.”

Read the rest of the article on Mestia, Georgia's ski resort airport

London-based writer Louise Driscoll reviews Air Wear. THX! (...for once, I'm not referring to an airport code)

Say it with… airport codes: Air Wear puts the destination on your travel gear
by Louis Driscoll

May 20th, 2011


They say you can tell a lot about a person by the places they choose to fly to.

New York-based brand, Air Wear is inspiring jet-setters with a favourite destination to show it, with travel gear featuring their city name of choice, its latitude and airport code.

It is like joining an “elite club”, explains Air Wear’s founder, Jason Solarek, whose brand is based around the philosophy “you are where you go”.

Solarek took his inspiration from his earlier years as a newspaper reporter where he would often travel frequently. It was a time, he says, when he wanted to “share his pride” for his hometown in Rochester (NY).

“Airport codes signal that you are in the know. People see the signal you’re sending, nod, and think, ‘so that’s where you’ve been,” he says.

Air Wear products also tap into the idea that there is a story to tell behind every airport experience or destination – whether someone would like a memento of a special holiday spot or a reminder of home.

“For the popular cities, such as LA, the palm tree shirts are cliché. We are offering a new keepsake with high novelty value,” says Solarek.

With airports becoming destinations in their own right (Singapore Changi airport is just one example with a cinema, spas, gardens and museum), it is perhaps no surprise that the mainstream crowd are choosing to make a statement by wearing their favourite airport name on a baseball cap, or slung over their shoulder.

Read full article at terminalu.com

'Aerotropolis' article from Wall St. Journal

This Wall St. Journal article by Greg Lindsay talks about the importance of airports in building cities, much like he and co-author John Kasarda did in their book Aerotropolis.
Here at MyAirportCode.com, we'll put designing a ICN airport code on our to-do list.


FEBRUARY 26, 2011
Cities of the Sky
From Dubai to Chongqing to Honduras, the Silk Road of the future is taking shape in urban developments based on airport hubs. Welcome to the world of the 'aerotropolis.'

By GREG LINDSAY

To arrive at midnight at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, as I did recently, is to glimpse the pulsing, non-stop flow of the new global economy. The airport, which runs full-tilt 24/7, is packed at all hours. Nigerian traders bound for Guangzhou mix with Chinese laborers needed in Khartoum, Indian merchants headed to clinch a deal in Nairobi, and United Nations staff en route to Kabul.

Dubai's recent financial woes have forced the tiny Gulf state to scrap or scale back some of its more outlandish development schemes, including The World, an artificial archipelago shaped roughly like a world map. But one project has not flagged: the new concourse for Terminal 3. With construction continuing around the clock, the annex to what is already the world's largest building is desperately needed to accommodate the fleet of 90 Airbus A380s ordered by Emirates, Dubai's government-owned airline.

Read full article at WSJ.com - click here

Haneda, Japan (HND) airport opens 20 minutes from Tokyo

To help celebrate Japan's launching of Haneda (HND) airport, we are launching Haneda airport Air Wear travel bags, t-shirts, and more - click here.



From the Wall St. Journal

BUSINESSOCTOBER 20, 2010
Japan Offers Long-Awaited Alternative to Narita
By MARIKO SANCHANTA

TOKYO—Narita International Airport has long been the scourge of frequent fliers and business travelers because of its distance from Japan's capital, but now Tokyo is offering an alternative after decades of delay.

On Thursday, Haneda Airport—a mere 20 minutes from downtown Tokyo—is set to open its doors to scheduled international flights and increase its capacity by 40%, in a move that analysts have called the "big bang" in aviation liberalization in Japan.

Despite Japan's reputation for efficient infrastructure, the country has lagged behind its Asian peers when it comes to its main international airport, which is located among rice paddies about 90 minutes from central Tokyo.

Traditional Japanese tea lounge is seen inside the new international terminal building of Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. The terminal is due to open on Oct. 21.

"If Narita disappeared, I wouldn't mind," said Hiromichi Shirakawa, an economist at Credit Suisse in Tokyo who travels abroad six or seven times a year. "Access to Haneda is so much easier. Think of the opportunity cost of travel time: it takes over an hour [to go to Narita], versus 15 minutes" to reach Haneda, he added.

Haneda, which had been operating just a handful of international charter flights to Asian destinations such as Beijing and Hong Kong, plans to unveil its new international terminal Thursday. The introduction of scheduled international service will be staggered from Oct. 31, and by next spring, passengers will be able to fly from Haneda to Paris, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and Bangkok, among other destinations.

The new runway will create an additional 110,000 landing slots a year, 60,000 of which will be used for international flights. By 2013, the government aims to increase international slots to 90,000.

Japan has consistently been left off the top-10 international-airports list, which is dominated by Asian gateways. In 2010, Changi Airport in Singapore, Incheon International Airport in South Korea and Hong Kong International Airport were the top three airports in the world respectively, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards.

Part of the impetus to expand Haneda was to raise Japan's competitiveness against its Asian peers, particularly as low-cost carriers in the region are flourishing. Because of regulations, Japan has the highest landing fees in the world: It costs 770,000 yen, or about $9,400, to land a Boeing 747-400 at Narita, compared with 70,000 yen at Heathrow Airport in London.

Members of the information desk work in the departure lobby of the new international terminal building of Haneda Airport.

The government hopes the changes at Haneda will encourage more visitors to Japan, chiefly from Asia. It signaled a shift in policy when the Democratic Party of Japan came into power last year. Narita had been the brainchild of Japanese bureaucrats when it opened in 1978, and efforts to expand Haneda had, for years, been shelved because of the political controversy it would cause.

"Haneda will mark its first step toward becoming a 24-hour international hub," said Sumio Mabuchi, Japan's transport minister, in a speech last weekend.


Read full article

Safi - the inflight magazine for Afghanistan's airline

The Wall St. Journal wrote this past week about Safi, the inflight magazine for Afghanistan's airline. Articles cover topics such as "heroin addicts, photos of bullet-pocked tourist sites and ads for mine-resistant sport-utility vehicles".

I don't know how many souvenirs are sold in Kabul, but every heroin addict driving a mine-resistant SUV is encouraged to wear their KBL t-shirt when they travel.

Please find our Kabul, Afghanistan travel and souvenir items here

Article excerpt:
By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS

KABUL—Safi Airways, a start-up Afghan airline, ventures where few air carriers dare to go: Its in-flight magazine tells the ugly truth about the place where you're about to land.

American Airlines' magazine lists the 10 best pizza parlors in America. United Airlines has a spread headlined "3 Perfect Days: Amsterdam," presumably perfecting its 2007 article, "3 Perfect Days: Amsterdam."

In the seat pocket in front of you on Safi, you will find an article on Kabul heroin addicts, photos of bullet-pocked tourist sites and ads for mine-resistant sport-utility vehicles.

Safi Magazine Articles

View Slideshow

Courtesy of Safi In-Flight Magazine
In a piece in the magazine headlined, "Live Entertainment in Kabul: Dog Fighting," the writer says dogs in Afghanistan don't fight to the death, just until one proves dominant. "They are usually pulled apart before they can inflict serious damage on each other," the article assures passengers.

More photos and interactive graphics
The airline provides this insider's tip about one of the city's leading luxury hotels: "The rooms are individually air-conditioned, accessorized with amenities you will find in 4-star hotels abroad, sheets are clean, view from the room is nice, and—after the suicide bombing that took place—security measures have been implemented."

Read full article

Sarah McLachlan to perform at JFK airport

Maybe we can get Sarah to perform in an Air Wear JFK t-shirt...

NY HEARD & SCENEJULY 22, 2010
McLachlan Concert Tour Takes Off at JFK

After performing in sold-out arenas, playing in an airport terminal may seem like a downgrade, but not for the singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan.

In anticipation of her new album, "Laws of Illusion," Ms. McLachlan will kick off JetBlue Airways' Live from T5's 2010 concert series next Thursday at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Fifteen of Ms. McLachlan's fans not scheduled for a flight that day will have the chance via Facebook and radio stations to win tickets to the airport performance.

"Look at the music industry today; musicians have to be more creative with their music," explained Chad Issaq, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Superfly Marketing Group, which is presenting the concert series. (Other acts haven't yet been announced.)

Read full article

Send us your pics

Have a favorite spot? Send us your pics. Please e-mail them to: jason@myairportcode.com

Virgin Airline's in-flight magazine Voyeur features Air Wear travel items

View Air Wear website

View Virgin Blue's in-flight magazine website

About Voyeur magazine:

Virgin Blue Voyeur is the free in-flight magazine provided for all Guests flying with Virgin Blue, Polynesian Blue and Pacific Blue Airlines. The magazine editorial is designed to keep both business and leisure travellers entertained throughout their flight, and engaging their imagination. From beautiful island getaways to how the latest entrepreneur made their millions. Short listed as one of the best travel and leisure magazines it has been one of the fastest growing magazines on Roy Morgan for the past 12 months.


Quick Facts
Frequency: Monthly
Australian Circulation: 77,342 (CAB audit)
Readership: 288,000 (Source: Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, January - December 2009)
Core Target: AB/C business and leisure travellers and frequent flyers
Content: Culture, Travel, Business, Technology, Food and Drinks, City Guides

Delta's new terminal at JFK

We're glad that Delta is getting a new home, although keeping the original Pam Am Worldport building (above) would be nice, too.
Either way, we hope the new building will offer JFK airport code t-shirts, bags, and more.

Delta Close To New Digs
JFK Terminal Plan Expected in 60 Days
By DOUG CAMERON And ANDREW GROSSMAN
Wall St. Journal
JUNE 16, 2010

Delta Air Lines Inc. is close to announcing the renovation of its outdated terminals at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport amid an intensifying competition for the city's business-travel market.

The airline has been in talks for months with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey about funding a move that is expected to include demolishing the former Pan Am Worldport—an iconic terminal at JFK famous for its saucer-shaped roof—to make way for new facilities.

Delta President Ed Bastian said at an industry conference that an announcement is expected within 60 days involving the Port Authority and "several other players."

Delta is close to a plan to renovate its JFK terminals that will likely include demolishing the iconic building that once housed the Pan Am Worldport.

"It is the worst facility that we operate," Mr. Bastian said of Delta's two JFK terminals, which date to the early 1960s, acknowledging that they contributed to relative weakness in securing business travelers.

Read full article

New Air Wear display board for showcasing product range to stores and consumers

This is our new samples board. This purpose of this piece is to show stores and customers in one 'piece' our product and design offerings. The board shows many of our products, with multiple design approaches including block lettering and barcode lettering.

blogs despoke and Spot Cool Stuff feature Air Wear

Thanks to the blogs despoke.com and Spot Cool Stuff for giving Air Wear a shout out. We found SCS's write up entertaining:

Well, there’s lots of fun to be had combining airport codes. Get an airline ticket from San Vito, Costa Rica to Helsinki, Finland to Anderson, USA and then to Baku, Azerbaijan and your luggage tag would read TOO-HEL-AND-BAK.

As for single airport codes here are Spot Cool Stuff’s five favorites:

#5 SEX – Sembach, Germany

Want to send your luggage away for a weekend of debauchery? Apparently this airport is ideal.

#4 FAR – Fargo, North Dakota, USA

The thing of it being that Fargo is indeed not close to much of anything.

#3 SUX – Sioux City, Iowa, USA

Sioux City isn’t really that bad.

#2 FUK – Fukuoka, Japan

Spot Cool Stuff’s former home airport; our admittedly juvenile selves had to snicker a bit whenever we checked a bag to there.

#1 YYZ – Toronto

All airports in Canada have an airport code that starts with Y. Most have some logic to them; eg. YQM is Quebec’s Montreal airport. But for some inexplicable reason Toronto is YYZ. We love the randomness of that. YYZ is also the only airport code to become the title of a popular song, an instrumental from Canadian rock band Rush. The song is meant to capture the spirit of the Toronto airport, from the stop-and-go nature of waiting for flights to the roar of jet planes. Click below to hear snippets of two versions of YYZ-the-song: the first is the 1981 Rush original, the second is a more mellow version from The Vitamin String Quartet (which does cool classical music renditions of every Rush tune from their album Exit… Stage Right as well as covers of popular hits from Metallica, Michael Jackson and Queen among others, though now we are really getting off topic).

Click here to read the full post at SCS

A more discreet way to say you're interested in SEX...

We should send Louann Brizendin a SEX sticker. We wonder where she'd put it.

From CNN

Love, sex and the male brain

By Louann Brizendine, Special to CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Louann Brizendine: Male and female brains mostly alike, but some profound differences exist
Men's sexual pursuit area 2.5 times larger than the one in the female brain, she writes
She says testosterone drives the "Man Trance"-- or a glazed-eye stare at breasts
Brizendine: A wife's pheromones cause "Daddy Brain." Later, "Lovable Grandpa" or "Grumpy Old Man"?
Editor's note: Dr. Louann Brizendine is a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the National Board of Medical Examiners, and a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. She is founder and director of the Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic. She wrote "The Female Brain" and, just released, "The Male Brain." Brizendine will appear on HLN's "The Joy Behar Show" Friday at 9.

(CNN) -- Although women the world over have been doing it for centuries, we can't really blame a guy for being a guy. And this is especially true now that we know that the male and female brains have some profound differences.

Our brains are mostly alike. We are the same species, after all. But the differences can sometimes make it seem like we are worlds apart.

The "defend your turf" area -- dorsal premammillary nucleus -- is larger in the male brain and contains special circuits to detect territorial challenges by other males. And his amygdala, the alarm system for threats, fear and danger is also larger in men. These brain differences make men more alert than women to potential turf threats.

Click here to read full story

Wedding Welcome Bags: We're making Nassau Bahamas Air Wear tote/beach bags

A bride to be has ordered these tote/beach bags as part of her wedding welcome gift for guests. The New York based bride is getting married this spring in NAS, and will be accompanied by her family and best friends.

Click here to view NAS airport code products

We're shipping Berlin and Paris T-shirts, and Berlin Messenger Bags

View all Berlin airport travel products - click here

View all Paris airport travel products - click here

New picture of LAX bags in LAX

My friend Ted was coming home to LA, and took this picture in an LAX airport store. Thanks, Ted!

Please find our LAX travel bag and other items here:
http://www.solarek.com/airwear/index.cfm?col=ctry&dir=asc&code=LAX

Communication Arts magazine features Air Wear

We are happy to see Communication Arts' home page feature Air Wear today. Please see attached screen shot.

Please visit Communication Arts at: http://www.commarts.com/

Communication Arts is the nation's premier advertising and design magazine.

Georgetown University magazine submission

Let's see if this make it into GU's alumni magazine. Fingers crossed. : )

Out of town welcome bags: Air Wear is invited to the Wedding

A future bride from New York recently placed an order for 14 beach/tote Air Wear bags. She shared with me that she'd:
"been looking for "welcome bags" for months and I wasn't all that excited about any of the bags I found- this is one that is unique and practical for male and female guests- my fiance and I love the design and I think our guests are going to love them too!" She added that she had searched the "theknot.com and they have tons of websites listed to purchase out of town welcome bags but yours is by far my favorite bag!"
We are happy that she found us, and look forward to her enjoying the items.

We are also excited that she ordered our Air Wear bag that has a white strip on it for writing a message. This area may include a message such as the location of the wedding, the year, or a thank you message from the bridge and groom.

We can make custom welcome bags for any location in the world. Please click here to e-mail us about your wedding welcome bag.