TAKING OFF with PHL

One thing everyone seems to know about Philadelphia is our passion for sports. In addition to our home teams, we are lucky to be a destination city for all types of sporting events big and small, from the NFL Draft to Little League games. One such event coming in April 2024 is drawing fans from around the world, as the smackdown comes to Philadelphia with Wrestlemania! In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the City of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation, talks with Larry Needle, Executive Director of PHL Sports at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Leah Douglas, Director of Guest Experience at the Philadelphia Airport.

PHL airport recently piloted and debuted a new program working with the TSA, American Airlines, and Landline Motor Coach, giving passengers from smaller hubs a smoother way to get to PHL to catch connecting flights. PHL is the only airport in the country to roll out this new program, continuing in the city's history of innovation. In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the City of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation, speaks with Gerardo Spero, Federal Security Director for the TSA, about what it took to bring this innovative new service to life. To learn more about the Landline Motor Coach program, visit https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/landline.jsp.

In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the city of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation speaks with Denise Bailey, Deputy Director of Aviation, Business Diversity and Accessibility. Here at PHL and PNE, we are committed to working with and supporting small diverse businesses. From parking, to food, to facilities, there are hundreds of businesses that not only keep our airport moving, but help create a better experience for our travelers. We are proud to have diverse businesses reflect the City of Philadelphia. To learn more about our Diverse Businesses, please visit phl.org

Here at PHL and PNE, we believe in the importance of addressing sustainability and incorporating it into our daily practices at the airport. Joining Atif Said in this episode to highlight some of our amazing programs, efforts and implementation is PHL’s Sustainability Manager, Jessica Noon. To learn more about our Sustainability Program, please visit phl.org

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Philadelphia International Airports Arts Program! Over its 25 years, the program has provided millions of visitors from around the world access to a wide variety of art forms by artists and arts institutions from the Greater Philadelphia area. In this episode, joining Atif Saeed, CEO of the city of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation to help celebrate 25 years of the program, is the founder of the Arts Program at PHL and Director of Guest Experience - Leah Douglas. To learn more about the Exhibitions Program at PHL please visit PHL.org and be sure to follow @PHLAirportArt on Instagram.

In this episode of Taking Off with PHL, Keith Brune the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation speakes with the chief of PHL’s Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF) Engine 78 unit - Chief Kamau Bright. The learn more anout Chief Bright and Philadelphia International Airport please visit phl.org

In the Division of Aviation, we use the acronym P.R.I.D.E. to describe our daily commitment to our customers and our co-workers, as well as our mission to connect Philadelphia to the world. The letters stand for: P-People First R-Respect I-Integrity D-Diversity E-Excellence This episode is part of our Exceptional Employees series recognizing those individuals nominated by their colleagues for exhibiting one or more of the Division of Aviation’s core values. In this episode, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation, Delicsha Wilds, speaks with PRIDE Award recipient, John Glass. To learn more about Philadelphia International Airport and our exceptional employees, please visit phl.org

As we head into the busy holiday travel season, in addition to packing your bags be sure to pack your patience. Holiday travel in the airport this year will feel in many ways like pre-pandemic travel...busy and crowded. Joining Keith in this episode for some travel tips on what you can expect during this holiday travel season is Kate Sullivan is the Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships at PHL. To learn more about Philadelphia International Airport please visit phl.org

Philadelphia is one of the country’s most LGBTQAI-friendly cities and was the first ever U.S. destination to produce a national TV commercial for the LGBTQAI traveler. Here at PHL, we strongly believe in and practice PRIDE 365 through our year-round support for and celebration of the LGBTQAI. Joining us for this episode is legendary LGBTQAI Rights Activist and Founder of the Philadelphia Gay News, Mark Segal. Mark has been a member of the PHL Airport Advisory Board since its inception in 2010. To learn more about Mark and Philadelphia Gay News please visit epgn.com And to learn more about Philadelphia International Airport please visit phl.org

In Chellie’s final episode with the podcast, she passes the hosting mic to Keith Brune, Interim CEO of the City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation. After four years as host of Taking Off, Chellie Cameron is taking on a new challenge as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. In this episode, Chellie and Keith take a look down memory lane, reminisce about the evolution of Taking Off, and discuss what’s to come. To learn more Philadelphia International Airport, please visit phl.org

Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans (85%) are expecting to travel this summer, according to new data from the U.S. Travel Association – suggesting that people have brushed off their COVID fears and are returning to a “ready to travel” mindset. In fact, the foot traffic through TSA checkpoints over the last holiday weekend in the U.S. was only slightly less than in 2019 pre-pandemic. As Americans’ enthusiasm for travel continues to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, the travel experience is most certainly very different than it once was. In this episode, Chellie is joined by Clint Henderson, Managing Editor of News for The Points Guy, a travel lifestyle media platform and website, to talk about what travelers can expect at airports and in the skies this summer travel season. To learn more about Clint and The Points Guy, please visit thepointsguy.com And to learn more Philadelphia International Airport, please visit phl.org

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military pilots in U.S. military service, operating between 1940 and 1946 as the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Despite earning an exemplary record while fighting the enemy abroad during World War II, these men faced racism and discrimination at home. Flying some 1,600 missions and destroying over 260 enemy aircraft, the Tuskegee Airmen helped lay the foundation for President Harry S. Truman’s decision to desegregate the armed forces in 1948. Delaware State University (DSU) in Dover, DE, held a key position in developing the squadron that would become known as the Tuskegee Airmen. As U.S. involvement in WWII rose, DSU’s aviation program was designated one of six historically black colleges and universities added to the government-sponsored Civilian Pilot Training Program. Some of DSU’s student pilots became the first Black military flyers after training at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. While DSU’s aviation program languished after WWII, it was restarted in 1987. Since then, the school’s planes have been painted with red tails, which have become a symbol of the Tuskegee Airmen and the planes they flew in World War II. In this episode, which was recorded during Black History Month in February 2022, Chellie speaks with Lt. Col. (Ret) Michael Hales, DSU’s Director of Aviation Programs. Lt. Col. Hales brings an insatiable passion for all things aviation and a bold strategic vision for the future of the program – which includes training a pipeline of pilots and aviation professionals of color. To learn more about Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hales and Delaware State University, please visit DESU.edu. And to learn more Philadelphia International Airport, please visit phl.org/newsroom.

In the Department of Aviation, we use the acronym P.R.I.D.E. to describe our daily commitment to our customers and our co-workers, as well as our mission to connect Philadelphia to the world.The letters stand for: P-People First R-Respect I- Integrity D-Diversity E- Excellence 2020 was a year unlike any other. We navigated a devastating global pandemic that fundamentally transformed the travel, tourism and aviation industries, all while keeping our passengers, our colleagues and our community safe. This episode is part of our “Exceptional Employees” series – and the exceptional employees who keep us moving. The PRIDE awards recognize individuals who have been nominated by their colleagues for exhibiting one or more of the DOA’s core values. In this episode, Chellie speaks to Heather Redfern, the 2020 recipient of “Integrity” award. To learn more about Philadelphia International Airport and to learn more about our exceptional employees, please visit phl.org.