Between flight cancellations, security fears, lost baggage, and—worst of all?—the spectre of cell phone use being permitted on planes, it’s clear that a lot of the fun has been sucked out of air travel. But there are signs of hope. While the airlines themselves flounder, authorities at some airports are stepping in, the New York Times recently reported. At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, customer service is being ramped up, security procedures are being streamlined and more equipment is being added. Says one source: “The airport is saying, I need to be accountable to my customers regardless of what carrier they’re on.”

Of course, more efficient security screenings don’t help much if your flight has been delayed a few hours. The Times notes that airports are also adding more amenities: spa and massage services, higher-end food and drink options and more.

In San Jose, airport authorities have just selected 37 new restaurants and vendors to serve Mineta International, with a focus on local brands and flavors to convey “a sense of place.” It’s the same story up the coast in Vancouver, where several new offerings have also just been announced, including trendy, beloved-by-yuppies Canadian chain restaurant, Milestone’s Grill and Bar.

If you’re going to be stuck in the airport for hours, you might as well enjoy a good meal. In these tough times for air travel, the availability of “Fire Grilled Wild Coho Salmon” is an improvement, right?

Related on World Hum:
* Peggy Noonan: ‘America is in Line at the Airport’
* The Unexpected Pleasure of an Airport Terminal

Photo by ztij0 via Flickr (Creative Commons)