The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) recently launched Travel Confidently, a robust health safety program to ensure the public can be confident when traveling through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).

“Working with guidance from health agencies and best practices in the industry, we have adopted a comprehensive program to help keep travelers and airport employees healthy,” said MAC Chief Executive Officer Brian Ryks. “As our passengers return to the skies, they will experience a very different airport in terms of health safety elements in place to protect them.”

The Travel Confidently program is a set of measures adopted over the last few months across the airport in partnership with airlines, concessionaires, the airport industry, federal agencies and others, to give travelers a safer experience on their journeys.

As an added safety measure, travelers at MSP also can now receive a free Travel Confidently care kit containing a five-pack of face masks, hand sanitizer and a information card with tips for flying safely. Ask for the kit at the airport’s information booths in the Airport Mall, in Ticketing and on Level T at Terminal 1, or at the information booth at Terminal 2 in bag claim.

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Sun Country Airlines recently began service from MSP to three popular destinations.

Sun Country’s seasonal route to Bozeman, Mont., started service in June. The Bozeman Airport is located 78 miles from Yellowstone National Park and nearby recreational areas.

Now the second airline serving Bozeman from MSP, in addition to Delta Air Lines, Sun Country provides twice-weekly flights on the route.

Also in June, Sun Country launched service to Portland, Maine, making it the only airline serving that destination from MSP. The service also marks the first time since 2009 that MSP has had direct flights to Portland.

Situated along the Atlantic coast, the Portland area offers a broad selection of tourism-related activities.

Sun Country’s service to Baltimore-Washington (BWI) started on June 25, making it the fourth airline offering flights from MSP -- joining Delta, Southwest and Spirit. Last year an average of 486 passengers per day flew between MSP and BWI.

The Baltimore area is home to several historic and natural sites, and is located 38 miles north of Washington D.C.

See Sun Country's website to check flight schedules for each destination and plan your next trip.

Passengers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) will notice a new Wi-Fi service on their laptops and mobile devices the next time they pass through.

The new system provides additional bandwidth and offers better coverage to support the growing number of devices connected to the Internet.

To access the system, airport guests simply open a browser on their laptop, tablet or smartphone and select MSP Airport WiFi from the network choices. After accepting the terms of use, guests will be connected in seconds. 

A portion of the new Silver Ramp at MSP Airport’s Terminal 1 will open Wednesday, August 5, providing travelers with improved transit and rental car facilities.

Among the services making the move to the first floor of the ramp are:

• All rental car services
• The Metro Transit route 54 bus service, currently located on the east upper roadway
• Off-airport parking shuttles
• All bus services, including Jefferson Lines, Landline and charter buses

While the rental car customer service counters are located on Level 1, pick-up and drop-off of rental cars will take place on levels 2-5 of the new ramp, with expansive, well-marked lanes for vehicles. Restrooms are found on levels 1-4, and level 5 is served by the tallest escalator in the state of Minnesota.

The bus and off-site parking shuttle services are moving to the new transit center, also located on Level 1, just around the corner from the rental car counters.

Note: Due to highway reconstruction, the eastbound Route 54 bus is currently detoured. Information on how airport passengers can catch the eastbound 54 bus is available here.

To reach the new facilities, travelers will take the underground tram from Terminal 1 toward the Red and Blue parking ramps and light rail station. After getting off the tram, follow the signs for rental cars and the transit center. You will need to take an escalator or elevator up one level after entering the new building.

The ground transportation services listed below are NOT moving:

• Transportation network companies, such as Uber and Lyft, will remain on the east upper roadway.
• Taxis
• Limousine services
• Special Needs Shuttle
• Hotel Shuttles 

The Silver Ramp will not be open for parking. Passenger numbers at MSP are roughly 25 percent of normal, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That reduction has prompted the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP, to wait to open the new ramp for parking until demand warrants it.

A sampling of that artistry is now on exhibit in the Thomson Reuters Concourse C Art Gallery in MSP’s Terminal 1.

“The issue is when people come to Minnesota, it’s usually only to see the Twin Cities or Duluth,” said Sikkila. “Project Bike allows them to take some time and see that there are artists in other areas of the state. I hope it motivates them to think creatively and know that art and culture is for the masses.”

For the Concourse C space at MSP, Sikkila selected artwork from 12 of the 65 artists who have been a part of Project Bike. Their names and the towns they call home are identified on each of the 50-some pieces displayed.

Sikkila logged more than 2,500 miles. Her bike, the trailer and a map of her routes are part of the exhibit.

The pieces vary widely in materials and design and include, among other artwork types, embroidery, oil and acrylic paintings, hand-carved stoneware and sculptures.

A guitar on display from Jonathan Sell, an artist from Lonsdale, Minn., is made of dozens of mechanical components including chains, springs and roller bearings.

Sikkila, who knew about the arts program at MSP, sent a proposal to Arts@MSP about what an exhibit of Project Bike could look like at the airport.

Once selected by the MSP Arts and Culture Steering Committee, she prepared for the show at MSP by talking to the artists, looking at color schemes and picking pieces sized to work in the exhibit space that stretches along Concourse C.

“What’s going to capture someone’s attention from 10-15 feet away?” she said. “It’s important to draw people in” who are usually rushing through the terminal.

A depiction of a bike lane displayed on the wall between the cases ties the exhibit together.

Ben Owen, the director of Arts@MSP, says that “Project Bike Retrospective” melds art, health and fitness with parks and trails. “It celebrates the natural beauty and creative economy of Minnesota,” he said, “and the biking component behind the whole endeavor is the icing on the cake.”

Project Bike Retrospective is on display through December 4, 2020.

Boutique Air, a commuter airline that has experience serving MSP, will begin flights on Aug. 1 to Ironwood Mich., located on the scenic Upper Peninsula.

The airline will offer five flights a week between Ironwood and MSP.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation selected Boutique to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) to Ironwood from MSP.

Service on the subsidized route will be on an 8-to-9 seat Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. (Pictured)

Ironwood is known for its year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, including skiing (downhill and cross-country), hiking, bike trails (smooth and off-road), kayaking and snowmobiling.

Boutique previously had flown an EAS route between MSP and Thief River Falls, Minn.

Travelers who find themselves in need of some personal protective equipment (PPE) - such as face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes - can now find it at several locations within MSP, including in six vending machines that sell a variety of PPE items.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most airlines require passengers to wear a face covering while on a flight, as they help reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to others. 

At Terminal 1, travelers will find PPE vending machines both pre-security (on Level T and the Ticketing Lobby) and post-security (on Concourse F and two locations on Concourse C). At Terminal 2, the vending machine is located in the Ticketing Lobby, near Door 2.

In addition, most convenience newsstands are selling masks, hand sanitizer and other PPE. If you’re in the market for something special, visit the Prince store or North Loop in the Airport Mall for a variety of exclusive face mask designs.

As work continues on the Highway 5 reconstruction project, several ramps on 5 and Hwy. 62 closed recently.

Terminal 1's inbound roadway is accessed by Highway 5. Currently, the eastbound lanes of Highway 5 are closed between I-494 and Davern Street in St. Paul through July, weather and schedules permitting.

Westbound Highway 5 is set to close in August as the project advances, and eastbound lanes would then re-open.

Please visit AroundtheAirport.com for the latest information and assistance on planning your trip to MSP or anywhere along Highway 5.

You can find real-time traffic updates related to the project at www.511mn.org.