Private planes clog airports for games

The St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport reports its busiest weekend in 20 years, as TIA also fills with fans.

By ED QUIOCO

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 29, 1999

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport officials were expecting a busy Final Four weekend.

They got that and then some.

Airport officials closed two runways to make room for about 150 private and corporate planes to park, executive director James Howes said.

"That's a record for us to have that many airplanes," Howes said. "We can say it has been the busiest weekend in 20 years."

Most planes were filled with celebrities, Final Four tournament sponsors and business executives, said Howes, who declined to name any of the celebrities.

"A lot of Hollywood types," Howes said.

"They don't usually like us to publish those types of things."

Some of those planes have already left and others are planning to leave tonight, "right after the final bucket," Howes said.

But most planes will stay until Tuesday.

Howes said he is not expecting delays for departing planes since the departures will be spread out over a few days. Extra air-traffic controllers will be on duty today and Tuesday to handle the volume of planes.

Tampa International Airport also felt the crush of Final Four fans.

The airport was filled with volunteers handing out maps and other tournament guides, basketball displays and charter buses taking fans to hotels, said Daniel Prather, assistant director of operations for TIA. Two 747 jets filled with fans landed at the airport.

"We don't get too many 747s in here," Prather said. "We have the capacity for them, but we don't see 747s in here a whole lot."

TIA also had its share of private airplanes. Three taxiways were closed down at the southeast side of the airport to make room for parking, Prather said.

Friday was the airport's busiest day.

By Sunday, airport traffic had calmed down, said Prather, who is expecting most fans to leave Tuesday.

Prather said he was not anticipating delays for departing fans, but "it is always wise to call your airline ahead of time, make sure it is still on schedule and check for any possible delays."

And as always, passengers should watch for thieves who follow big sporting events for victims.

"Because there is an influx of people who have a lot of money, naturally that will draw people who are inclined to take their money," said Lt. Robert Dixon of the Tampa International Airport police. "You have to plan for these things."

Dixon advises passengers to keep their valuables with them at all times and to be aware of what is going on around them. Some thieves work in groups and while a partner distracts a passenger, the other partner will make off with the loot, Dixon said.

"It's those simple precautions that will make sure you keep your possessions," Dixon said.