Fed officials work to get air travel back on schedule

Friday, Sept. 19, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- After canceling thousands of flights as Hurricane Isabel moved up the Atlantic coast, federal authorities prepared to get the nation's air traffic system back to normal by the weekend.

"I get the sense we're going to be doing a lot better today than yesterday, but we're still going to be seeing the ripple effects of this throughout the country," Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said this morning.

McCarran International Airport did not feel much of an effect from Hurricane Isabel.

"We haven't seen a major impact, but we're asking travelers heading to the East Coast to continue checking the McCarran website and calling their airline before they come to the airport," McCarran spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said.

Three flights to the East Coast were canceled, and 10 to 15 flights have experienced some delays, but travelers are moving pretty well, spokeswoman Debbie Millet said.

"It's been the usual busy Thursday, and we've had very smooth lines," Millet said.

This morning arriving and departing flights were all running on time at McCarran, according to the airport's website.

The hurricane led to the cancellation of about 5,700 flights, affecting 20 airports, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said earlier.

Officials suggested customers call their airlines to check the status or flights, or go online to http://www.fly.faa.gov to check the status of airports.

FAA towers are operating, but airports are contending with high winds, flooding, power outages and airplanes that must be repositioned for their flights, officials said.

Washington's Reagan National Airport remained closed, and airport officials planned to survey how much flooding occurred on the airfield before deciding when to reopen. That decision was expected by noon.

Washington Dulles International Airport remained open through the storm, though airlines had removed their planes before the storm arrived. Commercial flights were arriving at Dulles airport Friday morning.

All flights were also canceled Thursday at Baltimore Washington International which remained closed today because of power outages.

"Our message is: Don't come to the airport without checking with your airline first," said Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Some flights to New York's LaGuardia Airport were delayed Thursday by as much as 13 1/2 hours, and some flights arriving at Philadelphia International Airport were delayed by as much as 9 1/2 hours.

Flight delays also were reported in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta as the problems along the hurricane's path created a domino effect. Sun reporter

Jace Radke contributed to this story.