Airport slowly reopens

Paul Clinton and Deepa Bharath

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- The airlines took a ginger step toward resuming

operations on Thursday as the first flights began to arrive and depart

from John Wayne.

The Federal Aviation Administration had shut down all air operations

Tuesday morning after hijackers rammed planes into the World Trade Center

and Pentagon. As many as 5,000 people are missing and presumed dead.

At 12:14 p.m., a Delta Airlines Boeing 757 was the first passenger

plane to lift off John Wayne’s runway. Flight 850 was headed to Atlanta.

The FAA certified the airport’s security plan Thursday morning, giving

John Wayne managers the go-ahead to open for business. Airline station

managers were briefed at 7 a.m. By 10 a.m., passengers were beginning to

arrive to check in.

Two additional planes left John Wayne following the Delta flight. At

1:07 p.m., America West Flight 264 left for Sacramento. Also, an Aloha

Airlines flight left at 2:30 p.m. for Honolulu.

Several other flights, carrying only pilots and crew, were flown to

other airports to be repositioned. Normal operations won’t begin until

next week.

A handful of planes carrying travelers also landed at John Wayne.

Three America West flights touched down at 1:31 p.m., 2:05 p.m. and 3:20

p.m., respectively. The airport also was expecting three American

Airlines jets about 8 p.m.

Airport spokeswoman Yolanda Perez said she was elated that flights

were getting back on track.

“It was a start that we are beginning normal operations,” Perez said.

No cargo planes or other private jets used the airport, Perez said.

Officials at the airport outlined their new security measures at a 2

p.m. press conference. They said they will be checking all vehicles going

into parking lots adjacent to the airports.

“These are not random checks,” said Michael Hart, deputy director of

operations and security. “All vehicles, including rental cars, going into

the lots will be checked.”

On Thursday afternoon, officers who were posted at the entry points of

the lots were inspecting inside the hood and trunk of each vehicle going

in.

Valets also will investigate the vehicles before they park them, Hart

said.

Airport officials said they had several additional officers than

normally deployed at the airport, but declined to say how many.

The surveillance system also has been expanded to accommodate

additional security cameras all over the airport, said Patrick Lee, chief

of police services at the airport.

He said airport police over the last two days have been working in

collaboration with other city police departments, including Irvine, Costa

Mesa, Newport Beach and Santa Ana.

The Orange County Sheriff’s bomb squad, as well as canine units, will

be a regular sight at John Wayne from now on, Lee said.

The first obvious difference passengers will perceive is the delay,

Hart said.

“We urge all passengers to get here at least two hours earlier so they

can be on time for their flights,” he said.

Officials also said that as of Thursday afternoon, no incidents or

threats were reported at the airport.

Abby Swaim, who lives in Costa Mesa, was on the America West plane.

She said she didn’t mind the extra security.

“They’re doing it so we feel a sense of security,” Swaim said. “If it

needs to be done, it needs to be done.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .