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CNN Saturday Morning News
Orange Terror Level Will Remain for Rest of Holiday Season
Aired December 27, 2003 - 09:22 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says he will keep the terror threat at level orange, or high, probably for the rest of the holiday season.
Our Elaine Quijano is standing by live at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, keeping us up to date on how traffic is moving through there. Good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Sean. With the nation under a heightened terror alert, officials are telling folks, if you can get to the airport earlier this year, you should really do it. And in some cases, they're saying at least two hours ahead of time, just in case.
So far here at Reagan National Airport, the folks that I talked to say they are factoring that into their plans, trying to leave themselves, in some cases, three hours' cushion just in case.
But, by the looks of things so far this morning here at National, they haven't really needed all that extra time. In fact, security checkpoints appear to be moving along quite smoothly.
One person who was dropping off a passenger said it took about 25 minutes or so this morning. Now it is down to about 10 minutes at last check. That really could change, however, as the day goes on, this being one of the busiest weekends, travel weekends of the year.
Thousands are expected to pass through this airport before the weekend's end. And TSA officials say that they have geared up for this holiday rush with part-time and full-time staff handling the crowds.
Passengers, meantime, say that they are leaving themselves plenty of extra time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get into the airport early. I was concerned about that. And parking was a problem. I think more people flew this holiday than last year. I was surprised at the number of people who were flying.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Got up at 5:00 this morning and took off to make sure I got here on time. And, you know, don't want to miss my flight. (END VIDEO CLIPS)
QUIJANO: And again, if you are traveling this weekend, officials are telling you, get to the airport at least 90 minutes ahead of your flight. And some airlines telling people at least two hours ahead of your flight, just in case, Sean.
CALLEBS: OK, Elaine Quijano, smooth sailing at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Season>
Aired December 27, 2003 - 09:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says he will keep the terror threat at level orange, or high, probably for the rest of the holiday season.
Our Elaine Quijano is standing by live at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, keeping us up to date on how traffic is moving through there. Good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Sean. With the nation under a heightened terror alert, officials are telling folks, if you can get to the airport earlier this year, you should really do it. And in some cases, they're saying at least two hours ahead of time, just in case.
So far here at Reagan National Airport, the folks that I talked to say they are factoring that into their plans, trying to leave themselves, in some cases, three hours' cushion just in case.
But, by the looks of things so far this morning here at National, they haven't really needed all that extra time. In fact, security checkpoints appear to be moving along quite smoothly.
One person who was dropping off a passenger said it took about 25 minutes or so this morning. Now it is down to about 10 minutes at last check. That really could change, however, as the day goes on, this being one of the busiest weekends, travel weekends of the year.
Thousands are expected to pass through this airport before the weekend's end. And TSA officials say that they have geared up for this holiday rush with part-time and full-time staff handling the crowds.
Passengers, meantime, say that they are leaving themselves plenty of extra time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get into the airport early. I was concerned about that. And parking was a problem. I think more people flew this holiday than last year. I was surprised at the number of people who were flying.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Got up at 5:00 this morning and took off to make sure I got here on time. And, you know, don't want to miss my flight. (END VIDEO CLIPS)
QUIJANO: And again, if you are traveling this weekend, officials are telling you, get to the airport at least 90 minutes ahead of your flight. And some airlines telling people at least two hours ahead of your flight, just in case, Sean.
CALLEBS: OK, Elaine Quijano, smooth sailing at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Season>
