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American Morning

America Under Attack: White House to Decide When U.S. Airspace Reopens

Aired September 12, 2001 - 11:32   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We told you a few minutes ago, for you travelers out there, or those of you who have loved ones that are stuck somewhere across America or perhaps overseas, 12:00 Eastern today -- a half hour from now -- was the original time set for the possible lifting of that ban by the FAA for flights to resume over U.S. airspace. We did get word a few minutes ago that the FAA is pushing back that time. We don't have word when the new time estimation will be.

Let's bring in our Patty Davis in, who's been following this part of the story for us.

Patty, are you getting any word as to when the FAA says flights might resume across the United States?

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, what the FAA is saying specifically is that 12:00 was the earliest time it might reopen U.S. airspace to commercial flights. What it is saying at this point is that that decision now is up to the White House. That announcement will be made by the White House in consultation with the Department of Transportation.

Now, the Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta was scheduled to hold a press conference about an hour ago; that was canceled. He was to have details on exactly the security measures, how that would happen in terms of the airspace, etcetera. But that was canceled.

We are now told that the White House will be making the announcement on when the airspace will be reopened. So the FAA is saying this noon now is possibly not the target time for reopening U.S. airspace.

Washington Airport Authority, the Metropolitan Airport Authority spokeswoman tells me as far as Washington, Reagan, and Dulles Airports are concerned, she is not expecting either of those airports to have any flights today. No airlines have filed any flight plans at those two airports.

I have some details on a few airlines. American Airlines does say it may resume some flights when airspace is reopened. United Airlines is saying it does not plan any scheduled flights before 3:00 p.m. Central time. And of course, this is all up to whether or not the airspace is opened -- if and when.

KAGAN: Patty, if you are still with us there, you are saying it's not the Transportation Department or the FAA that is going to make that announcement; the White House -- but is the White House saying when they'll make that announcement. I have to imagine there are a lot of frustrated travelers stuck across United States?

DAVIS: We're actually just told now that no decision has been made exactly when U.S. airspace will open, that, hopefully, we'll hear more about that later today. Delta Airlines is also saying that it has canceled flights through 6:00 p.m. Eastern today. So it is obviously up to what the federal government decides to do.

There's no decision made, at this point, in terms of when that airspace will be reopened -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Patty Davis, in Washington -- Patty that is going to be frustrating news, as I mentioned, for a lot of people who are stuck.

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