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Interview with Thom Nulty

Aired July 05, 2002 - 14:36   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Some security analysts say the attack at LAX exposes another soft spot in airport security. They say the security coordinates should be extended outward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISAAC YEFFET, FMR. EL AL SECURITY DIRECTOR: We have to start having undercover security people, armed at the curbside of the terminal, inside the terminal, at the security checkpoint, at the gate, at the aircraft, at the perimeter of the airport. And not to leave everything empty, especially in the public area.

Number two, if it's possible, just to think if we can let only passengers with tickets go inside the terminals, we'll minimize the number of people that are walking there. And we can check people if they are passengers, they have ticket, they have passport, this will make our life easier and we can control the people that are walking into the airports in our country here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Joining us to talk more about this, Thom Nulty, president of Navigant International, a travel management company. Well, Mr. Yeffet makes an interesting point. Should there be more plainclothes officers on the perimeter?

Already we know that there are uniformed officers. But mostly they are consumed with directing traffic, aren't they?

THOM NULTY, PRESIDENT, NAVIGANT INT'L: Well, in many cases they are. However, I have seen more officers at the airport, really just observing the crowds.

You know, I travel often. Since September 11th I've been on over 120 flights. So I've seen just about every airport and have been very observant. And I guess, obviously, the watch word for most travelers is be alert, be observant. That's really the important advice that can I pass on.

WHITFIELD: Well, yesterday's shooting certainly has sparked a pretty hot debate now. Is this a knee-jerk reaction to expand security, or is this a plausible idea?

NULTY: You know, I think it's a little bit of a knee-jerk reaction. We still don't know what the motive really was here. And anytime people gather in a single spot you have to think about things like this could happen.

And even when I was going to the Laker playoff games, you know, I thought about it. There's security on the inside, but thousands of people lined up on the outside. And in all of those times you think about things like that.

But I'm afraid that thinking about trying to totally isolate the terminal, then you think about isolating the parking garage and roads at the terminal, it frankly could never stop on what you could do.

WHITFIELD: Sure. The question is, where do you drew the line? After we saw a space of shootings involving schools, many of the schools started putting in metal detectors and had random searches. But when you have such incidents like this in so many public places, at what point do you draw the line as to where security is needed, in what public places?

NULTY: Yes. And as far as airports go, I think the security that's there now at the terminals is very good. I -- you know, they're under some scrutiny, obviously. But I have been through all of them, just about. And I have been through many international destinations as well. And I find the security here in the U.S. to be as good as anything that I have seen.

You know, I've had my own shoes taken off several dozen times, and belt buckle undone and hand searched and everything else. And that just wasn't happening prior to September 11th. So, security is good.

And they're actually getting to be pretty efficient at it. I haven't waited in line more than 12 minutes in the last -- in the last, let's say, three or four months. So they're getting pretty good at it.

WHITFIELD: And for the most part, travelers are not complaining that these new security measures are in place. They welcome them. But what are you hearing from travelers that you interact with on a regular basis, as to their suggestions on increasing or beefing up existing security at the nation's airports?

NULTY: Well, I think they're all feeling pretty good about it. You're right. I'm a frequent traveler and I know a lot of other frequent travelers and talk to them often. You know, I think they all think the security is pretty good.

I think that they're most interested in the hassle factor and cutting that down. And most airports have done that. They've expanded the number of checkpoints. The people seem to be getting more and more professional every day.

And I think it's the way that they approach you that makes you feel good or bad about it. If they approach you in a professional way for a secondary search, or to take your shoes off, and they do it in a kind, nice way, people don't feel so bad. And I think that most people are feeling all right about it.

What they really want to make sure, is that airplane secure. The cockpit door is secure and there's no way to get inside of that. Even if somebody should get past the security screeners with a weapon, the real key is to keep them out of the cockpit.

WHITFIELD: All right, Thom Nulty of Navigant International, thank you very much for joining us.

NULTY: My pleasure.

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