been waiting for for more than 18 months: federal travel restrictions preventing non-U.S. citizens from entering America will be eased beginning in November. Fully vaccinated citizens from the United Kingdom and European Union countries will be able to visit the United States with proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before their departure.  

This news was especially welcome at PHL and throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The airport is American Airlines’ designated transatlantic hub and our region is home to many businesses with headquarters here and abroad, not to mention renowned hospitals that treat patients from around the world. Not being able to welcome foreign visitors has had a significant impact on the recovery of the airport and our region’s business, industry and tourism sectors. For the past year, PHL has partnered with Heathrow Airport (LHR), American Airlines, British Airways, the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, and fellow American airports to advocate for the safe reopening of travel for Americans and international guests. Prior to the pandemic, PHL’s airline partners offered more than 20 transatlantic routes. Since transatlantic travel was re-opened to Americans in September 2020, a few of those routes were restored, but not at pre-pandemic capacity, and many times on a very limited basis, with starts and stops. We are hopeful that easing of the travel restrictions will lead to our airline partners resuming most, if not all, of their PHL service in the near future and giving our COVID-19 recovery a much needed boost.   

The details of the new travel requirements are evolving and we will have more to share, especially regarding the impact on PHL, in the coming months. I am looking forward to connecting with all DOA staff members on topics like this at our new “Conversations with the CEO” meetings, which will be held quarterly in person and virtually. During each session, senior team members and I will provide an update on a variety of airport initiatives and answer questions. The first sessions will cover the state of the airport. Please look for dates and registration details in upcoming HR communications. Space for in-person sessions will be limited. I hope to see you all.  

Stay safe, 

Chellie 

HR Updates

PHL WELL Hydration Station Winners

Congratulations to our PHL WELL Hydration Station Week 1-5 winners! More than 109 videos were submitted, a combined 1,372.3 ounces of water were consumed and a total of 1,654.3 points were earned during the challenge.   

 And the winner is Yolanda Parks from the Purchasing Administration Unit. Yolanda drank a total of 1,121.60 ounces and earned a total of 1,373.60  challenge points. 

Other Hydration Challenge winners are:                                                                             

• 2nd Place: CEOLA WILLIAMS, Custodial Unit
• 3rd Place: MAE MITCHELL, Purchasing Administration Unit
• 4th Place: Kim-Nguyen Tran, ASU Unit

Weekly Hydration Winners: 

Week 1: Mae Mitchell

Week 2: Ceola Williams 

Weeks 3-5: Yolanda Parks

Be on the lookout for our next challenge: PHL WELLness Walk in October!

Employees’ Combined Campaign: Philly Gives Together  

Donate now through December 21, 2021 

The City of Philadelphia Employees’ Combined Campaign workplace giving program gives employees and retirees the opportunity to contribute to pre-approved charities using the convenience of payroll deduction, credit card, and personal check. Simply put, through this Campaign, you can positively affect your community. America’s Charities, which inspires employees and organizations to support each other and the causes they care about, is Philly's Campaign Management Organization (CMO). The CMO administers the Campaign and works with Campaign captains to develop ideas and implement plans to promote the Campaign. The Campaign launched September 21, 2021 and ends December 31, 2021. This annual charitable giving program is purely voluntary and a personal decision; however, one of the City’s core values is to give back to local communities. The Campaign is a manifestation of those values because it provides employees and retirees with an opportunity to make a collective impact.  

TO DONATE:  

1. Access the online fillable pledge form on the giving portal here: (https://cityofphiladelphiacombinedcampaign.americascharities.stratuslive.com/)  Submit cash, money order or personal check to Zoraida Antonetty (‘Z’) in the Executive Offices, Terminal D, 3^rd floor, or Riad Khan in HR, Terminal E, 3^rd floor. Money orders and/or checks must be made payable to Combined Campaign. 

Rework Reminders: 

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS  

1. Masks are required IN AIRPORTS AND ON PLANES through January 18, 2022 per TSA Directive
2. Employees must wear a mask when operating a City vehicle if there is more than one person in the vehicle.  
3. All employees must complete the daily questionnaire prior to the start of their work shift.  
4. It is still recommended that employees and the public maintain a safe distance between themselves and others. 

 Per the City of Philadelphia Mask Mandate, employees who have not provided proof of vaccination are required to double mask by wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask.  Employees who have provided proof of vaccination are required to wear a single mask in all City owned properties. Please ensure compliance with this policy.   

 The airport has PPE available for order from CSS.  You may order PPE for use by your staff via Maximo using the following item numbers:  

1.  Surgical Masks -Item numbers Z210277 and Z210321 
2.  Cloth Masks - Item number Z210294 

Embedded contractors are asked to supply their supervisor/project manager with proof of vaccination and may send a copy to [email protected] .   

If you have not uploaded your vaccination card into OnePhilly, you will be expected to double mask.  Instructions on how to upload your card can be found HERE. 

TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE UPDATES DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE, EMAIL [email protected] WITH YOUR EMAIL AND/OR CELL PHONE NUMBER. 

Employee Milestones 

Welcome new employees who started working at the airport in the month of September: 

• Monique McCullough – Accounting Transactions Supervisor, Finance Unit

Congratulations to the following employees who were promoted in the month of September: 

• Allen Whitney – Semiskilled Laborer Pavements & Grounds
• Drew Kersic – Heavy Equipment Operator 2, Pavements & Grounds
• Imani Nasir Philips – Airport Operations Officer
• Lowell Champion – Heavy Equipment Operator 2, Pavements & Grounds
• Oliver Simmons – Heavy Equipment Operator 2, Pavements & Grounds
• Sulieman Fisher – Semiskilled Laborer, Pavements & Grounds
• Wallace DuBois – Airport Operations Superintendent, Airside

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! 

Do Your Part-  #BeCyberSmart. 

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month, PHL! Now in its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a nation-wide initiative that raises awareness about the importance of cybersecurity so that all internet users have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. PHL recognizes the importance of cybersecurity and remains committed to providing all associates with the training and resources needed to identify and respond to online threats. This year, we join in with organizations from all over the country to remind our associates that cybersecurity is truly a team effort that requires all of us doing our part to be successful.  

Throughout the month, Information Security will deliver various training, informational content, and activities through different media around the airport so be sure to keep a lookout! 

Safety Update

Have a Safety Concern?  Report it!  

All airport employees, regardless of position or level in the organization, are encouraged to report safety concerns online https://www.phl.org/SMS/report-hazard, OR via phone at x7233 (xSAFE) from any airport telephone. Reports are confidential and can be anonymous unless you choose to provide contact information.  It is important to know that when we share information in SMS, we do so with the intention of learning and improving our practices, not finding fault in one another.    

For any questions or additional information regarding the SMS, please contact the SMS team at [email protected].  Feel free to visit  www.phl.org/sms to learn more.  We look forward to working with you to improve safety at PHL. 

“Run” the PNE Runway and Help March of Dimes 

Looking to add some fun to your workout and help a good cause? Run, walk or bike the PNE runway virtually and raise money for the March of Dimes.   

Register for the virtual 5K run/walk here, then between October 17-23, walk, run or even bike anywhere and upload your results on the website.  On your “race day”, you can follow a narrated video on a simulated race throughout PNE.  

Employees can also join members of the Capital Development Group for a 5K walk on October 20, starting at 12 p.m. from the International Plaza 1 entrance (walkers must arrive by 11:45 a.m.). To participate in the walk, email Roxanne Gliwa at [email protected].  

The cost to register for the virtual or in-person 5K is $25 and proceeds benefit the March of Dimes. Participants should register using the link above and can join the “Philadelphia International Airport” group or select or create another group.  All participants will receive a t-shirt and a finisher medal courtesy of event sponsor, The H&K Group.  

New Order@PHL Extended Hours 

Order@PHL now offers extended delivery hours for the convenience of guests and employees. Service is now available from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Orders can be placed via orderatphl.com or with the Grab app.  

Fire Prevention Week 2021: “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” 

Fire Prevention Week is October 3-9. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety”. The Philadelphia Fire Department reminds everyone of the importance of knowing what to do when their home fire alarm sounds. 

When an alarm makes noise – either a beeping sound or a chirping sound – that means it’s time to take action:  

• A continued set of three loud beeps—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! —means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out!  
• A single “chirp” every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.   
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.   
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.   

If someone in your household is deaf or hard-of-hearing, you can get adaptive devices that use flashing strobe lights to alert people when the smoke alarm is sounding. Pillow- or bed-shakers can also be paired with smoke alarms to wake up sleeping occupants. Philadelphia residents should contact 311 to request free traditional smoke alarms or adaptive alarms for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The PFD will install the alarms.  

If your home has a carbon monoxide alarm, a continuous set of four loud beeps — BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! — means carbon monoxide is present in your home. Go outside, call 9-1-1 and stay out! Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause you to lose consciousness before you even understand what is happening. 

PHL Joins Tinicum Township 9/11 Commemoration 

Administrative Assistant Zoraida Antonetty (left) and Assistant Director of Community Engagement Keesha Lane (right) attended Tinicum Township’s September 11 memorial tribute at Printz Park, answering questions and offering PHL giveaways to attendees. The event honored members of the U.S. military and first responders and include live music, color guard, food and craft vendors, raffles, 50/50 and kids zone. Proceeds benefitted the Liberty USO at PHL and the Tinicum Fire and Police Department.  

Help Combat Human Trafficking: Participate in National Outreach Survey for Transportation 

 The Division of Aviation is partnering with United Against Slavery in a global effort to better understand the complex obstacles to liberating the 24.9 million people held in forced labor and commercial sex slavery. 

 According to the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons website, “Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands   of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking,   whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.” 

•  People are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced begging, forced marriage; for selling children and as child soldiers, as well as for removal of organs. Women make up 49% and girls 23% of all victims of trafficking. Most victims are trafficked within their countries’ borders – those trafficked abroad are moved to the   richest countries  

Historical efforts to gather and understand information to implement effective solutions for this crime have been a challenge and success seemed unattainable. Why? They have not involved collecting the knowledge that only those on the frontlines have. 

The National Outreach Survey for Transportation is open and the voices of airport employees are the most important to be heard. 

Click on this link to start the anonymous survey: https://uas.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6QG2eRXXZCxMqcC?grpID=2021nost-phl.  

The survey takes up to thirty minutes and can be completed in multiple sessions. The survey is open until November 26, 2021.  

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At the Airport:  

PHL Remembers 9/11: 20 Years Later  

September 11, 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. PHL airport and airline employees shared their memories of that day and reflected on how it changed the aviation industry forever.  

Know Before You Land: Where to Find Ground Transportation at PHL 

Most PHL passengers needing ground transportation will find the airport’s South Commercial Roadway behind the baggage claims and near the SEPTA Airport Line platforms is the place to be. Here, travelers will find taxis (zone 5), hired limos and vans (zone 6) ride share app pick-up (zone 7) and charter bus and couriers (zone 8).    

Capital Development:  

DOA’s Lynn Perry Recognized by Women Builders Council  

Lynne Perry, a resident engineer in the Capital Development Group, was honored by the Women Builders Council (WBC) as one of the organization's 2021 Outstanding Women. Perry has been with the airport for more than 15 years, starting out as a contract administrator in 2006. Among the many high-profile projects Perry has been involved with are the D/E Terminal Expansion, Service Animal Relief Areas, Engine 78 renovations, and Terminal E and Terminal B/C Core Roof projects. 

PHL Receives $2.8 million to Install Emissions Reducing Pre-conditioned Air Units  

PHL was awarded a $2.8 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) grant to purchase and install 11 pre-conditioned air (PCA) units in terminals D and E in partnership with PHL's airlines. 

Airline News:  

PHL Aviation Representatives Discuss Easing of International Travel Restrictions at BABCPHL Webinar  

The September 20th announcement that, beginning in November, the United States will ease restrictions that have prevented citizens from 33 countries since March 2020, was especially welcomed by PHL. During the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (BABCPHL) webinar, “On the Fly Travel Update: PHL/LHR & The World”, PHL CEO Chellie Cameron, London Heathrow (LHR) CEO John Holland-Kaye, and a panel of representatives from the travel, airline, and legal sectors, discussed what the easing of the restrictions means to the Greater Philadelphia region and London, and what work is still needed to fully restore travel.    

Operations & Security:  

Operation Allies Refuge Takes Flights at PHL  

The City of Philadelphia and PHL are coordinating with the federal government’s Operation Allies Refuge to provide a point-of-entry location for individuals evacuated from Afghanistan. 

In the Community:  

Philadelphia Seaplane base: A Historic Waterfront Destination for Locals and Visitors  

The Philadelphia Seaplane Base, located on an eight-acre plot of land along the Delaware River and west of the airport in Essington, a town in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, is a special spot in our community with a rich history. 

Shopping & Dining:  

PHL Food & Shops Merchants Ready for Business  

By the end of September, passengers traveling through PHL, were able to enjoy the offerings of more than 120 PHL Food & Shops concessions, with more re-openings and grand openings planned for the coming months. The atmosphere was a stark contrast to the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when just a handful of restaurants and shops were open in a few terminals.   

People at PHL:  

PHL Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Semi-Skilled Laborer Deborah Hill  

PHL Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Paradies-Lagardere General Manager Hamid Larbi 

PHL Impression-Makers: Prime Flights Aviation Services Line Queue Attendant Tonia Davis 

Making a Difference at PHL – Meet the Friendly Faces Behind the PHL Volunteer Navigators Program  

In celebration of its 20th year, PHL has expanded and rebranded its volunteer program, which has welcomed millions of passengers over the years. The PHL Volunteer Navigators Program is now managed by Christine Datesman of Travelers Aid, and is part of the airport’s Guest Experience Department. 

PHL’s Office of Business Diversity’s Active and Winning Summer 2021  

While COVID-19 had wide-ranging impacts on the airline industry, PHL Office of Business Diversity (OBD) honored its commitments, spearheaded new initiatives, and were recognized for its efforts.