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American Morning

The Big Question: Can the Government Do a Better Job of Airport Security?

Aired February 18, 2002 - 09:32   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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The big question this hour: Can the government do a better job of airport security? Many people are flying home today after the three-day weekend, but they may not be aware that yesterday, the federal government began taking over security at airports around the country. The process is not supposed to be completed until late fall.

CNN's Leon Harris is at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport.

Leon, what are you finding there this morning?

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Anderson to tell you the truth, we are not finding very much, and maybe that's good news. That could be exactly what the feds want to hear.

We're at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, the world's busiest airport, although you couldn't tell by what we see right here on the curb. Very light traffic with today being the holiday. Many folks, as you said, probably heading home today after the holiday. And we have been hearing from some of these travelers who are here at the airport a variety of stories about their experiences with security. No one seemed to notice that there was any difference in the security, which -- with the takeover now by the federal government and, again, as we say that is good news.

However, we have been hearing stories from some of travelers about increased time taking for them now because of all the steps they have to go through. That's the type of thing people deal with for some time now. They all seemed to be used to the idea. One man told us that he expects to go through a lot of security on his way from Atlanta going down to Mexico, and he says hopes that it will take a long time to get through security, because he wants them to check everything as thoroughly as possible.

As a matter of fact, we talked to one traveler on his way back to Newark, New Jersey from here in Atlanta, and he was telling us as well about differences he had to make in his travel plans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little bit more security on the way out coming down here, a little bit more lead time to get the process done. HARRIS: How much more time? How much more time is it taking you to get from...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: We did speak with some officials here as well. We talked with some people from the FAA, and they were telling us that it's been a seamless transition for them over the weekend, and as well this morning. And one thing I want before I go back to you, Anderson, one thing I will say is that it's been amazing to me. I traveled through this airport countless times, and I've never seen such a collection of security. Perhaps the folks who are screening at the mangnatometers, they may be being run by the federal government now, but there is a collection of local police here. We saw dogs. We saw officers on bikes.

There are FAA authorities who are walking through the airport. And as well as airline security people who are also walking the airline floors. So there's a gauntlet out there that travelers are having to go through. But by and large, they are all saying, that's fine with them.

Anderson, back to you.

COOPER: Well, Leon, even though the former government has officially taken over, in many cases, the actual personnel on the ground have not changed and will not be changing if at all for several weeks or months, is that correct?

HARRIS: That's exactly what we are hearing. And that's one of the reasons why this transition has been so seamless. And many people, though, who are traveling are a bit concerned about that. We talked to one man as a matter of fact who went through the magnetometers, and he said that some items of his were missing when he went through. And you know, he said he knew who to go to try to get things back before; it was that company. However, now he says he has no idea how he is supposed to work this sort of thing out, even though the personnel are the same. But the bosses are all different.

COOPER: All right, Leon, thanks very much for joining us this morning.

Leon Harris at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport.

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