"Airports slow to get travelers back in air"

Friday, September 14, 2001

Airports slow to get travelers back in air
Stepped-up security, especially at Washington and New York airports, keeps
most airliners idle.
By Katie Fairbank
Dallas (TX) Morning News


DALLAS -- Turmoil from terrorist attacks left most of the nation's aviation
system grounded again Thursday even as airlines and airports were told they
could resume operations.

The aviation industry struggled to get planes back into the air amid
heightened security requirements, diverted aircraft, and constantly changing
information.

"I must caution everyone that a system as diverse and complex as ours cannot
be brought back up instantly," said Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
"We will reopen airports and resume flights on a case-by-case basis, only
after they implement our more stringent levels of security."

By late afternoon, there were about 250 flights in the air, compared with
about 4,500 on a normal day.

Airports across the country continue to work to meet new FAA security
measures. By Thursday, about 75 percent of the nation's 468 FAA-controlled
airports had met the requirements and reopened.

Among the airports that remained closed was Washington Reagan National
Airport. Officials said that it would not reopen because of its proximity to
key federal buildings.

The FAA had allowed the three main airports in the New York area -- La
Guardia International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and
Newark International Airport -- to open early Thursday but closed them after
the FBI made arrests at Kennedy.

Decisions have been fluid throughout the crisis. For instance, Mineta fully
opened U.S. skies early Thursday and then shortly afterward reinstated the
ban for private and general aviation.

Because of the constant changes, Mineta urged passengers to check with
airlines on flight schedules and available service and allow extra time for
heightened security.

Under the tight security, curbside check-ins and visits to terminal gates to
greet passengers are things of the past. Knives and other cutting tools are
prohibited and increased security will be on hand in airplanes and on
airports.

Continental Airlines Inc. said it spent Thursday completing flights cut
short by Tuesday's ban and didn't indicate when it would resume its regular
schedule. Southwest Airlines Co. said it would begin flights at 11 a.m.
today.

United Airlines Inc. will begin flights at 8 a.m. CDT today. The flights
will operate on only a limited schedule. It was unclear when United's
regular schedule would begin.

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