Recent renovations will help the Ontario International Airport near Los Angeles manage the flow of millions of travelers annually
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	Now that you've seen the airports of the future, start making your millennium travel plans

From CNN Correspondent Dan Ronan

(CNN) -- About a dozen airports around the country are getting facelifts in time for the new millennium.

"We are now in a cycle that began in the '70s and is at its peak in terms of airports reaching a new series of renovations and expansions," said Steve Reiss, of HNTB Aviation's architecture services.

Upgrading an existing airport costs less than building a new one and doesn't require as much land. Ontario International Airport near Los Angeles recently added terminals with brand name shops, restaurants and an art gallery.

Convenience was a key consideration. "As you walk in, you're not much more than a few hundred feet from any gate in this airport," said Jack Driscoll, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports.

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"The airport of the 21st century is going to be recognized as much more integral part of the life of a community."
--- Ralph Tonseth, director of aviation for the City of San Jose

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San Jose International Airport is planning a major renovation.

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"Typically an airport develops a master plan for a period of time, say 10 years to 20 years, that projects improvements. They need to satisfy what they project is going to be their traffic demand," said Tom Remus, vice president of PB Aviation.

The biggest challenge of airport renovation is operating during construction. "We have to work in such a way that we don't interfere with the people's ability to get to and from the airport, to get the airplanes in and out and all the operations," said Ralph Qualls, director of public works for the City of San Jose.

Around the country, airports are improving access, building new terminals and expanding runways for larger planes. The airport of the new millennium is turning out to be quite different from its predecessor. It is the train station of the future, more than just a place to get on and off a plane.

"The airport of the 21st century is going to be recognized as much more integral part of the life of a community," said Ralph Tonseth, director of aviation for the City of San Jose.