Tampabay: Airports look to curb long waits

TAMPA -- Days after the federal government required the nation's airports to adopt tough new security measures following the terrorist attacks, some of the largest airports want to relax the new rules as they struggle to resume normal operations.

The directors of some of the nation's largest airports asked the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday to work toward lifting the new ban on passengers checking in at curbside. They also want the FAA to consider allowing airports, rather than the airlines, to handle the security screening process.

The proposals came during a two-hour conference call Monday between directors of the nation's 30 largest airports, including Tampa International, and FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and her staff.

Meanwhile, passenger service around the country varied widely, with some airports enduring long lines of travelers seeking planes. Others, including TIA, experienced less than normal traffic. At every airport, though, passengers continued to endure heightened security checks and the frustration of cancellations caused by the ongoing struggle to get planes and crews where they are supposed to be.

TIA officials estimated that perhaps 400 flights would arrive and depart Monday, just two-thirds of the normal 600 flights a day. The flights, normally about 80 percent to 90 percent full, were running about half full.

Meanwhile, short-term parking at Tampa International is expected to remain closed for at least another week, valet parking has been temporarily scrapped, and passengers are asked to arrive two hours before their scheduled flight to accommodate the security checks.

Tampa International's finances also are taking a hit, and airline passengers will notice it.

Louis Miller, the executive director of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, estimated Monday that the airport lost up to $1.3-million in revenue last week following the terrorist attacks. He said projects such as adding parking are on hold, and a hiring freeze is in effect.

Miller told the Times after Monday's two-hour conference call with the FAA that he was one of the airport officials who pressed for the resumption of curbside check-in.

"What does the ban get you? Nothing," he said. "Instead of the ban, we asked the FAA to consider allowing each individual airport to prove it could operate curbside check-in in as safe and secure a manner as at the ticket counters. There are a few measures we would need to take to upgrade the operation, but I have no question we could do it. I think curbside might be safer than having those enormous lines snaking around inside the terminal."

The FAA promised to consider it, Miller said.

Before last week's terrorism changed the way airports operate, 40 percent of the people using TIA checked their bags at curbside.

The FAA confirmed that the nationwide telephone conference occurred but declined to reveal details.

"The conference was held to stress the importance of following the new security procedures," said spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.

Miller said he also proposed that the federal government scrap the expensive proposal to have federal agents run airport security screening stations and instead give the responsibility to airports. Screening companies, which pay little more than minimum wage, are now hired by the airlines.

"I have said for a long time that we could do it better and cheaper," Miller said. "The idea of federalizing security screening is nonsense. All aspects of it should be handled by airport administrators -- by me. And the federal government should pay some of the cost of that."

Meanwhile, as difficult and expensive as last week's terrorism has been for the airlines, it also has threatened the financial stability of the nation's airports, including wealthier ones such as TIA. The airport directors asked that federal relief efforts directed at airlines include airports, Miller said.

While Tampa International lost up to $1.3-million in revenue last week, Miller said, there were increased costs for police, security, traffic and passenger assistance personnel.

"We get $100,000 a day from parking," he said. "That disappeared and can't be recovered. And parking volumes are still way down."

Miller said there is no rush to reopen short-term parking garages because of the reduced number of passengers. "We don't need the spaces," he said. "The long-term lot is half empty."

"We lost $24,500 a day in landing fees for four days, and today it's still way down," Miller said. "Concession revenues we lost -- they don't come back. Car rentals, one of our largest sources of revenue, way down. And on top of all that, we have so many people working overtime. It's amazing."

Airport passengers will feel the economic pinch.

Gone for the foreseeable future are projects ranging from a $150,000 art exhibit planned for the refurbished ticketing level of the landside terminal to the plans to build new parking structures at the south end of the airport property to handle the airport crush -- which doesn't exist at the moment.

On Sunday, for example, airlines serving TIA planned 195 arrivals and 195 departures. They managed only 160 in and 160 out. Monday, they planned for 240 in and 240 out, but that was considered optimistic.

"They plan for them, but they don't get them," said airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan.

Passengers continue to accept tighter security, although some show the strain. Bags are still opened and inspected at random at ticket counters, then again at gate security screening stations.

In addition to arriving at the airport two hours before flight time, passengers must have valid tickets for their day of travel to get onto the shuttles to the airside gates. Non-passengers are not allowed to take the shuttles to the airsides.

This caused considerable anxiety Monday for Barbara Zievis of St. Petersburg. She was at TIA to meet her severely handicapped brother, arriving on a US Airways flight from Philadelphia.

"They won't let me meet him, even though I told them he would wander all over the airport if he didn't see me," Zievis said. "They said they would help him, and that I shouldn't worry unless he didn't show up, but I worry."

Moments later her brother appeared, escorted by an airline employee.

Irene Zarrillo of Sarasota, who was at TIA to meet friends flying in from Buffalo, said she didn't think she would ever look at flying the same way.

"I'll be apprehensive, but I'll do it," Zarrillo said. "The thing I hate is that I find myself looking at people with suspicion now, people I never would have doubted before for a moment. It's awful. Not a good feeling at all."

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