BIA has image problem

I read with great amusement Tom Weber’s column (BDN, March 23) pertaining to Bangor’s cabdrivers and the “first impression’ they give to people arriving at Bangor International Airport.

Having arrived recently on the 11:24 p.m. flight from Detroit, I know Weber’s timing could not have been better to make me realize what a joke BIA is in the aviation world. Having deplaned along with about 50 other passengers, we arrived to a closed and empty terminal, which at that time of night was to be expected. Within five minutes another flight of less than 50 passengers arrived from Cincinnati. Everyone stood around for 30 minutes waiting for theirluggage to be unloaded.

I have landed several times at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Along with the 300 or so passengers getting off the 747 I was on were many other comparable-sized planes arriving at the same time. I have never spent more than 30 minutes picking up my luggage, clearing customs and finding a cab, complete with a driver in a starched white shirt and tie waiting curbside for me.

If Airport Director Rebecca Hupp wants us to believe this is a world-class airport, she needs to have a staff meeting. Jets don’t just appear at the gate with no warning. These are scheduled flights for which we pay a premium fare to use BIA over Portland or Manchester. As such, there should be personnel enough to service them.

After midnight we took our one piece of luggage to the sidewalk where a cab was parked. The driver was outside smoking a cigarette, but immediately stepped forward to place the bag in the trunk. While not in shirt and tie, he was helpful and got us safely home. Would it be nice to see a standardized dress code for the drivers? Sure. But BIA has more serious image problems that need to be addressed first.

Stuart A. Tinker

Bangor