A CLOSER LOOK -- John Wayne expecting holiday gift of passengers

Paul Clinton

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- This year’s biggest holiday weekend is expected

to provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the airport, which has been

crippled by the drop in travelers following the Sept. 11 terrorist

attacks.

The Thanksgiving Day holiday has always been the busiest weekend of

the year for airports and airlines. But that boost has never been more

necessary.

Early indications, gathered from discussions between airport managers

and local airline employees, suggest that the holiday weekend should be

solid, airport spokeswoman Ann McCarley said.

“John Wayne Airport [officials are] excited and encouraged that travel

is expected to rise,” McCarley said. “But we will continue to monitor the

activities on a weekly basis and for the long term.”

Not surprisingly, the two busiest travel days in the Thanksgiving Day

weekend are Wednesday and Sunday -- the days people use to get themselves

to grandma’s house and back home again.

Since the airport reopened two days after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, passenger levels have stabilized at

about 15% below last year’s levels.

Revenue is also widely down at the airport. Less revenue has come in

from landing fees, passenger facilities charges, concessions, rental cars

and parking.

During the month of September, concession gross receipts were down

15.39% as compared with the previous year, county records show.

In addition to the sinking revenues, the airport is also facing huge

increases in security costs. The airport is expected to incur a

$9-million increase for the year following Sept. 11.

The airport hired a private security firm for 90 days following the

attacks and has implemented the Federal Aviation Administration’s

11-point security directive. Other measures have also been put into

place.

While airline activity is expected to be stronger at John Wayne, the

bigger picture isn’t as bright.

At United Airlines, which had two planes used in the attacks, the

flight schedule has been drastically slashed. The number of flights

worldwide has dropped 23% since last year, airline spokesman Joe Hopkins

said.

“There will be some spikes, but overall there will be fewer people

than a year ago,” Hopkins said. “You’ll see fuller airplanes.”

United is second only to American at John Wayne. At Southwest, which

has only a small presence at the airport, travel levels should be a tad

better.

“Of course, the loads won’t be quite as strong as last year,”

Southwest spokeswoman Kristin Schroer said. “But we are still expecting a

strong holiday season.”

Travelers using the airport will notice some changes, too. Groups of

National Guard soldiers are patrolling the Thomas Riley Terminal and

overseeing the X-ray screening process.

Travelers can park in the airport’s parking garages, but can only

enter through the upper level. Also, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies are

searching the trunks of cars entering the garages and the rental car

return area.

The airport has seemingly averted an interruption in taxi cab service.

American Taxi, the company with an exclusive contract with the county

to provide cabs, is struggling to solve its bankruptcy problems by

selling the company.

But Airport Director Alan Murphy was given the right, by the Board of

Supervisors, to hand out an interim agreement to a consortium of three

other companies.

Ford Motor Credit Co. gave the airport a 72-hour notice on Tuesday

that it would repossess the company’s fleet.

However, American Taxi was granted an extension to work out a deal

with potential buyers.

“We don’t expect any interruption of service to our passengers,”

McCarley said. “We are prepared in the event that American Taxi can’t

fulfill their contractual obligation.”

* 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 .