"Travelers find smooth sailing at BWI Airport"

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Travelers find smooth sailing at BWI Airport
By Matthew Santoni
The Baltimore (MD) Examiner


BALTIMORE - Travelers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood
Marshall Airport said they noticed little heightened security as they
breezed through the nearly empty airport Wednesday.

BWI officials have said they would tighten security after the fiery attack
on a Glasgow, Scotland, airport and the thwarted bombing attempts in London.

At BWI, electronic signs warned travelers to prepare for random checks of
cars on the road to the terminal, where uniformed officers stood quiet vigil
outside the entrances. But traffic remained light on the Fourth of July, and
passengers endured no long waits.

"I was startled to see so little backup," Ellicott City resident Bob
Mulligan said. 

His son, Mark, said he also got through security quickly at the airport in
Denver on his way to Baltimore.

"Maybe we're just getting used to it. ... They say, 'Get there two hours
early,' and you just bring a good, thick book," Mark Mulligan said.

Marie Wohlhagen, a Wilmington, Del., resident, dropped her daughters off at
BWI. 

"We were just amazed how smooth everything's been," she said.

They had arrived early anticipating long lines at the parking garage and
security checkpoint but got to use their time instead for lunch. Finn
Janniche, a Denmark resident visiting the U.S. with his family, said he had
left London the day before the first attacks but saw more security around
national landmarks than at the airports.

For the Fourth of July celebration, the National Mall in Washington was
fenced off, and visitors who wanted to watch the fireworks had to pass
through security checkpoints. Janniche said he hadn't expected to see so
many guards and barriers on the Mall and around the White House.

"We were quite surprised by that," he said.

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