A major initiative going on behind the scenes that we are launching this month is the development of the enterprise-wide Strategic Plan. This robust plan is designed to engage all DOA employees in fulfilling our vision and mission:  

Our Vision: To be a world-class global gateway of choice.

Our Mission: Proudly connecting Philadelphia with the world.

In March, I announced the appointment of Cassie Schmid as Chief Strategy Officer overseeing the Communications/Public Affairs, Marketing/Branding and Guest Experiences units. Cassie is spearheading the strategic planning process and collaborating with all the Chiefs to identify impactful top-level goals for each division. This goal-setting process, including specific measurements for each goal, will result in an enterprise-wide dashboard that will provide all DOA employees a  clear and concise view into what we need to achieve and how we’re making progress towards turning this plan into action.  

I look forward to sharing more with all of you very soon.  

Have a happy and safe July 4th.  Thank you to those employees who will be on duty, serving the expected record-breaking number of passengers traveling through PHL. Thank you for what you do for our airports every day.  

-Atif 

HR Updates

Covid Reminder

COVID-19 exposures and confirmed positive cases must be reported immediately to [email protected] for contact tracing. Employees will be provided direction on leave usage and return to work on a case-by-case basis. The minimum quarantine/isolation for a confirmed positive case is five (5) days followed by five (5) days mandatory masking while working.

ABOUT CRGs & AEGs: The City of Philadelphia recognizes City Resource Groups (CRGs) as a critical initiative to support the growth and development of a diverse workforce. City Resource groups (CRGs) are designed to ultimately make the City of Philadelphia and DOA more inclusive places to work.  Airport Empowerment Groups (AEGs) are intended for the Department of Aviation (DOA) community to promote employee engagement, networking opportunities to make professional contacts, information sharing cross functionally and organizationally, to identify gaps in airport business strategies, support airport initiatives, and to strengthen team building and social events.

CRGs - for questions about City Resource Groups, contact Brenna Schmidt at [email protected]. 
AEGs – If you are interested in participating or leading an AEG at PHL/PNE, email your idea(s) to [email protected]. There must be five people and a leader for implementation.

The YoPros are engaging in a YoPro Small Business Challenge where they visit and support businesses that have expressed interest in the airport by attending PHL's 2023-2024 ACDBE Academies. The challenge will run through August.  

GoldPros: The GoldPros is an AEG for women over 40 and allies. They meet every second Wednesday of the month from 10-11:30 AM. Keep an eye out for an email invite if you are interested in joining.

Women of Color in Aviation and Allies:  The mission of this ARG is to provide resources and support women of color who are in the industry and invest in ways to attract more women of color to aviation. 

To help manage any stress you may be feeling, employees have access to the following resources:

Penn Behavioral Health has hundreds of free articles, webinars, and resources for Work/Life Balance on their website. Employees may access this information by visiting: pennbehavioralhealth.org, then creating a profile using the Employer Code: PH033.
 

New Hires

Welcome to our June new hires:
Agnieszka Wos - Work Study Intern

Aliyah Stevens- Office Clerk 2 Executive

Bernard Williams-Pittman-  Custodial Worker 1

Dehron Grier- Semi Skilled Laborer Paving & Grounds

George Vyzaniaris - Work Study Intern

Giselle Kiariacos - Work Study Intern

Haja Donzo - Work Study Intern

Jacquelyn Robinson - Work Study Intern

Janely Naula - High School Intern

Kirene Holloman- Airport Communications Operator 1

Makiyah Adams - Work Study Intern

Maria Resto- Office Clerk 2 Workforce Development

Meet Patel - Work Study Intern

Mina Gerges- Design & Construction Project Manager

Nashiya Robinson - Work Study Intern

Robert Council Jr- Custodial Worker 1

Shaqaun Purnell Hunter- Semiskilled Laborer

Vincent Jones- Airport Operations Officer Airside 

Information Security Update

The Human Factor: Social Engineering 
In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, making sure the airport’s data is protected is more critical than ever. Cybercrime costs are projected to soar to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, highlighting the urgency of bolstering our defenses. Astonishingly, an average of 95 cyber crimes occur every hour. Among the many tactics used by cybercriminals, social engineering stands out as one of the most successful ways to bypass an organization’s security measures. This method exploits human psychology, manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information. Understanding techniques like phishing, pretexting, and baiting is essential for strengthening our defenses against these pervasive threats. 

Three Common Methods of Social Engineering 
Phishing is arguably the most prevalent form of social engineering. It involves deceptive emails, (sometimes even a seemingly legitimate, thread of emails) that entice victims to click on links directing them to websites that look valid and safe. Once victims input their login credentials, hackers exploit this information to access their accounts. 

Pretexting revolves around creating false scenarios or impersonations to gain the trust of victims. Attackers might pose as government officials, tech support personnel, or even law enforcement officers to coax victims into disclosing sensitive information, whether through emails, phone calls, or face-to-face encounters.

Baiting lures victims with enticing rewards to extract personal information. This can occur through emails, letters, SMS, or even USB devices. Unaware victims may innocently insert a USB drive found lying around, unaware of the potential danger it poses.

Best Practices 
To protect yourself and PHL against social engineering, adopt a healthy skepticism toward unsolicited emails. Utilize phishing alert buttons or forward suspicious emails to [email protected] for swift action by our Infosec team. 

Verify the legitimacy of sources before acting. For emails, scrutinize sender details, hover over links to verify destinations, and watch for spelling errors. When in doubt, contact official websites or representatives directly. In physical settings, remain vigilant against social engineering tactics that exploit helpful gestures to gain unauthorized access by always requesting proper identification.

To Conclude 
As part of the DOA community, it's our collective responsibility to stay vigilant and informed. By understanding the tactics used by cybercriminals and adopting best practices, we can fortify our defenses and protect our sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. Remember, the strength of our security relies not just on technology, but on the awareness and actions of each individual because criminals target YOU. Stay alert, stay educated, and together, we can keep our airport safe and secure. 

What's New at PHL Food and Shops

MarketPlace PHL will have their second Summerfest event on July 24th from 11AM-2 PM at the B/C Connector stage. There will be Pepsi sampling and photo booth.

Openings: XpreSpa in Terminal B is now open and offering a 10% employee discount on all products/services!

OrderatPHL Promo Codes

Independence Day: $5 off 7/4 - 7/5 using code: July4th

National French Fry Day: $3 off 7/12 using code: Fry24

Summerfest:$5 off code: ‘Summerfest2’

To sign up for the latest OrderAtPHL discounts text PHLSHOPDINE to 267-550-0996.

Meet the Planning, Parking/Ground Transportation and Guest Experience Units

When it comes to providing the best passenger experience at our airports, many things are important, including having first-class physical buildings, convenient amenities such as parking, and great services employees. These three units are all part of the equation to providing a great passenger journey.

Planning Unit

The Planning Unit is under the Capital Projects Group and is led by Thomas Joseph, Assistant Engineering Manager. The unit is responsible for leading efficient development at our airports consistent with local, state and national guidelines. The team is responsible for the Master Plan Update (MPU) which outlines the 20-year development goals for the airport. For the short-term, the team also manages changes that are needed to the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) to accommodate airline changes, transportation updates, and other operational requirements.

View the Planning Unit presentation

Commercial Parking & Ground Transportation Unit

The Commercial Parking & Group Transportation Unit is led by Kyle Sundin, Director, and is under the Commercial Group. Its primary goal is to direct the commercial strategy of PHL’s parking and ground transportation portfolio. That entails managing day to day parking operations and collaborating with our ground transportation vendors on agreements and permits. It is also planning for growth and new offerings to provide better experiences. These include a lighting/guidance system for our garages that would help passengers identify free spots, new online “pre-booking” technology, and curbside valet parking services.

View the unit's presentation to learn more

Guest Experience

The Guest Experience unit is led by Leah Douglas, Director of Guest Services, and is under the Strategy Group. The team works to facilitate airport-wide communication and trust and has teams that assist passengers directly (Navigators, Volunteer Navigators and Passenger Assistance Team) and others that plan the airport art exhibits, experiences and events. The unit also manages the Guest Experience Stakeholder Council which brings together representatives from all the businesses that operate across PHL. The council recently launched the PHL Works Customer Service Vision and Standards.

View the Guest Experience Unit presentation

Follow the Airport on Social Media

Want to learn more about news and events at PHL and PNE? Be sure to follow the airports on social media:

X: @PHLAirport 
Instagram: @phl_airport
Facebook: @PhiladelphiaInternationalAirport
LinkedIn: @phlairport
YouTube: @PHL_airport

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At the Airport

Expect a Record Number of Travelers this 4th of July 

PHL is not only projecting the 2024 Fourth of July holiday week to be on par with 2019, PHL is anticipating a record number of passengers to travel through the airport July 1-7.  During that span, PHL could potentially welcome more than 698,500 arriving and departing guests.

PHL Celebrates Launch of PHL WORKS 
To celebrate the people of PHL, the airport held a pep rally and award ceremony for the launch of PHL WORKS. The celebration included two drumline parades through the terminals, an award program honoring employee "superstars" presented by Eagle's Insider David Spadaro and lots of giveaways and food samples. Be on the look-out for future PHL Works table demonstrations this summer.

PHL Celebrates Inaugural Flights to Three European Cities 

More celebrations were held at the airport in June by the Department of Aviation, American Airlines, the World Affairs Council, and OTG to celebrate Americans' three new European cities. The celebration featured food and music from France, Italy and Denmark and festive ribbon-cuttings were held as just before each flight took off.  

Operations and Security

PHL Safety Team Completes FOD Walks Before the Start of Busy Summer Season 

As part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and clean environment, PHL conducted two Foreign Object Debris (FOD) walks during the first two weeks of June, on the airfield at Terminals D and E.

Press Releases

City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation CIO Allen Mehta Selected as 2024 Philadelphia Titan 100

Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation CIO Allen Mehta as a 2024 Philadelphia Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Philadelphia’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that include demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.

Philadelphia International Airport Community Launches PHL WORKS – A New Airport-Wide Guest Experience Program 

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 – PHL officially launched PHL WORKS — a program to inspire service excellence among the more than 16,800 badged employees at the airport. PHL WORKS is an initiative of PHL’s Guest Experience (GX) Stakeholder Council which brings together representatives from all the operating partners at PHL including the Department of Aviation, federal agencies, airlines, merchants, service providers and other tenants. 

Airlines

American Airlines and PHL Airport Celebrate Continued Transatlantic Growth with New Service to Copenhangen, Denmark; Nice, France; and Naples, Italy 

On June 6, American Airlines launched its inaugural flight to Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) from PHL. New service to Copenhagen is the final of three new transatlantic routes, including Nice, France and Naples, Italy which launched earlier this summer.

People at PHL

PHL Caring Support: American Airlines Customer Service Associate Patricia "Patti" Smith

American Airlines Customer Service Associate Patricia “Patti” Smith recently received the Caring Support award in PHL's Employee Recognition Program. This award recognizes employees who provide exceptional care and services to seniors, families with young children, disabled passengers, and others with special needs. 

PHL Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Department of Aviation Sign Fabricator Group Leader Timothy Garside

Department of Aviation Sign Fabricator Group Leader Timothy Garside recently received the “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” award from PHL's Employee Recognition Program. This distinction acknowledges employees who create a positive guest experience through service and delivery while collaborating with other organizations.