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CNN Live At Daybreak

Target: Terrorism - Reopening Reagan National

Aired October 02, 2001 - 07:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The airport nearest to the White House and the Capitol, Reagan National, has been closed since the September 11 attacks. But administration sources are telling CNN President Bush has now approved a plan to reopen Reagan National and an announcement could come today.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the airport across the Potomac from all those landmarks -- Kathleen, I assume very, very tight secret at Reagan?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very tight, Miles. And everyone here is really very much anticipating this most welcome announcement this morning. The closure of this airport, it being closed since September 11 has really had a devastating impact on the local economy. More than 10,000 people work here. Nearly half of them have been laid off. The tourism and travel industry in the Washington, D.C.-Virginia area has been hugely impacted, losing about $10 million a day.

So what we're expecting is that as soon as this morning President Bush could announce that this airport will reopen, but gradually, starting perhaps with shuttle flights to New York City and to Boston. And when it does reopen, there will be very tough new security measures in place. Every single flight to and from this airport would have an armed federal air marshal on board. Passengers before they left this airport would undergo not one screening, but two. And the approach routes to the airport that the aircraft normally fly would be varied in order to keep planes further from downtown Washington, D.C. And finally, the cockpit doors would be strengthened.

Now, Miles, when the flights do resume, this will raise the ongoing concern that has always existed here of how do you keep aircraft out of that prohibited air space over Washington, D.C. And it is a very tough job. Starting in recent years, just back in 1998, the incursions into that prohibited air space were up as much as, they were up to, it was about four times a month the aircraft were flying -- were straying into that prohibited zone.

In 1996 after the FAA sent out an advisory, the incursions dropped to 16. but in the last two years they were headed back up, with 25 in 2000 and 20 already this year alone.

Now, that is fueling some speculation that when this airport reopens that perhaps it will reopen for commercial flights only, that general aviation or private aircraft, not only because of their record of incursions into the prohibited air space, but also because they are not screened for security as the commercial aircraft are, that those aircraft, instead, would have to use, say, only Dulles Airport outside of Washington -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Kathleen, those security measures sound like they could lead to quite a bit of inconvenience for people using that airport right now. What are the airlines saying about that and what should consumers expect, assuming we hear an announcement a little later today that National Airport will reopen?

KOCH: Miles, I think they can expect the same sort of thing that you have seen with the increased security measures at airports around the country. Yes, the lines are longer. Yes, you're told to arrive at the airport two, maybe three hours in advance. But I can tell you from personal experience the days that we have spent out at Dulles International Airport, we have heard no complaints from passengers. In fact, everyone is very much reassured by all the increased security.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Kathleen Koch at Reagan National Airport, which as we're telling you is expected to be reopened soon. Thanks very much.

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