"Smooth sailing at San Francisco area airports"

Friday, July 8, 2005

Smooth sailing at local airports
Airlines report few delays after London bombings
By Mary F. Albert
The San Francisco (CA) Examiner
 
 
S.F. AIRPORT - Canine teams and bicycle police showed an increased presence
at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday in the aftermath of
bombings that killed at least 37 people and wounded more than 700 in London.

Otherwise, Bay Area air travel proceeded largely uninterrupted, according to
airport and airline officials.

"It has been pretty much a normal day," said SFO spokesman Mike McCarron,
who explained that airport security staff implemented an "aggressive"
patrolling schedule in the early hours after the attacks. However, by
afternoon, staffing levels had returned to normal, he said.
 
The Transportation Security Administration did not require the nation's
airports to increase their security alert statuses, according to the
administration. As a result, SFO, Oakland International Airport, and Mineta
San Jose International officials did not significantly alter their security
operations.

"Obviously it has been a different day for us," said Oakland International
Airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes. "We have definitely been in a state of
heightened awareness. But we've experienced no delays or cancellations as a
result of the delays in London."

Airlines operating flights through London said they, too, experienced few
delays.
 
"All of our flights have gone smoothly," said United spokesman Jeff Green,
who explained that neither of the flights scheduled to depart from SFO to
London on Thursday showed signs of last-minute cancellations or delays. With
"load factors" of 90 percent and 96 percent, both flights were almost
entirely full.

Even British Airways, which operates 550 daily flights out of London's
Heathrow, did not experience out-of-the-ordinary delays, last-minute
cancellations, or no-shows.

"Everything's fine I am happy to say," said British Airways spokeswoman
Diana Fung. "But it has been difficult on our staff. So far I think everyone
is safe."
 
The British airliner only canceled two flights in Europe on Thursday.

Several airlines - including British Airways, United Airlines, and Virgin
Atlantic - are allowing travelers with itineraries routed through London to
change their plans without charging change fees.


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