Friday, September 14, 2001

Airport activity cranking back up

South Fulton residents saw a vital part of their lives roar back into existence Thursday as Hartsfield International Airport came back to life.

The airport had been closed since Tuesday when terrorists attacked New York City and Washington, D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta ordered the national airspace system reopened to commercial and private aviation at 11 a.m. yesterday.

The secretary's decision was made after a series of meetings throughout the day and night Wednesday with White House and Cabinet officials, Federal Aviation Administration administrator Jane Garvey, aviation industry leaders, as well as intelligence and law enforcement representatives.

"The reopening of our national airspace is good news for travelers, for the airlines and for our economy," Mineta said. "But I must caution everyone that a system as diverse and complex as ours cannot be brought back up instantly. We will reopen airports and resume flights on a case-by-case basis, only after they implement our more stringent levels of security. This phased approach will assure the highest levels of safety, which remains our primary goal.

"Anyone planning on flying should check with their airline regarding the level of service and flight schedules, and be sure to allow plenty of time to deal with our new security procedures. There will be some inconveniences, but safety will be the first element of our system to be restored," the secretary said.

Wednesday, Mineta had approved a limited reopening of the system, allowing aircraft diverted during Tuesday's terrorist attacks to continue to their destinations or be repositioned in anticipation of today's decision.

At the same time, he announced a series of heightened security measures, including a ban on curb side luggage check-in and off-airport passenger check-in. Before being allowed to reopen, airports must clear their terminals of people and conduct thorough searches. Once reopened, airports will feature an increased presence of law enforcement officers, restricted access beyond the screening area and other restrictions.

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