The summer flying season is about to heat up. With more airline seats available than ever before, now’s the time to take the plunge and book the vacation you’ve been dreaming of.

Resumption of Seasonal Service

Air France resumed direct service to Paris, France on May 2. Service lasts through September 25. -  Terminal 1

Condor Airlines resumes service May 30 with three-times-per-week service to Frankfurt, Germany through September 5. - Terminal 2

Icelandair resumed service to Iceland on April 27. Starting in 2016, this service has become year-round. - Terminal 2

Additional Airline Routes

Delta Air Lines begins direct flights to Iceland on May 26 and to Rome, Italy on June 1. - Terminal 1

American Airlines begins direct flights to Los Angeles (LAX) on June 2. - Terminal 1

Sun Country Airlines begins direct flights to Portland, OR June 9. - Terminal 2

Sun Country Airlines celebrated its inaugural flight to Denver on Wednesday, May 4 by treating the flight’s passengers to Sun Country-themed cupcakes, beverages and goodie bags. 

At the event, Sun Country CEO Zarir Erani thanked passengers for flying with the hometown airline and noted that the airline now flies to 35 destinations from Minneapolis-St. Paul International. 

Dennis Probst, chief operating officer for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, said, “It’s great to see Sun Country continue to expand its operation at MSP and to offer travelers more air service choices.” 

To book a flight on Sun Country, go to suncountry.com. For more fun pics, visit Sun Country's and MSP's Facebook pages.

Learn all about two new retail/service carts at Terminal 1-Lindbergh on mspflymag.com, MSP Airport’s digital lifestyle magazine.

Chiroport offers on-the-spot chiropractic services. Feel great at the gate!

Kohler Chocolates - a tasty offshoot from the same Wisconsin company typically associated with sleek, modern sinks and faucets. 

Located across from Gate C12. 

The Art of Food exhibit is now showing in the Thomson Reuters Concourse C Art Gallery at Terminal 1-Lindbergh. 

“The Art of Food takes a fun, fact-filled look at how Minnesota cultivated an important role in global food production and reveals why Minnesota is an important leader in producing what the world eats,” said Robyne Robinson, director of Arts and Culture at MSP.

The six-month exhibition also features some of Minnesota’s food and beverage innovators, its famous restaurants and how Minnesota has become an exciting center for international cuisine.

Plan to stop by the gallery next time you’re traveling through Terminal 1. It’s located between gates C9 and C11. 

The Airport Foundation MSP has moved its American Sign Language (ASL) Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services to the airport’s information booths – located both within and outside the secure areas at both MSP terminals. 

With support from the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the Foundation started offering VRI services in 2011, but due to technological restraints was only able to do so at its main office in Terminal 1-Lindbergh. 

“Bringing the VRIs to the information booths has been a goal of ours ever since we started offering the service,” said Jana Webster, director of the Foundation. “We’re thrilled to finally reach that goal.”

The service is delivered through a computer or tablet and allows patrons whose primary language is ASL to better communicate with airport assistance staff.

VRI-enabled tablets are located in both terminals at every information booth. The booths are staffed by volunteers 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day with the exception of some holidays.

MSP Airport also provides Video Relay Service units and Visual Paging services. Learn more here: https://www.mspairport.com/accessibility/hearing.aspx 

MSP Airport passengers traveling with service animals or pets will be happy to learn there’s a brand new space inside Terminal 1-Lindbergh for their companions to do their duty. 

The new Service Animal Relief Area (SARA) features artificial turf, ample “turn around” space, and a flush and wash system that cleans and sanitizes the facility for the next customer.

Last year, the federal government mandated certain sized airports provide passengers with an inside-security SARA. (The Federal Aviation Administration defines service animals as a dog - or miniature pony - that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.)

MSP opened its first inside-security SARA in 2011. But when the opportunity arose, we went to work and designed an even better space for both service animals and pets.

A second SARA will open on Concourse C in 2017. Terminal 2-Humphrey will have one by year’s end as part of the expansion project currently underway there.