Following yesterday's airplane crash in New York, airport officials across Virginia felt the impact of airport shutdowns.
After an American Airlines flight with 255 people aboard crashed into a Queens neighborhood three minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Federal Aviation Administration officials temporarily suspended all travel in and out of New York's three airports, causing cancellations and major delays at airports nationwide.
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport operates six departures and arrivals daily from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Although a 6 a.m. flight from Charlottesville landed in New York before the crash, two later outgoing flights subsequently were canceled. Airport officials said they expected incoming flights from New York to also be delayed until FAA officials reopened LaGuardia, airport spokeswoman Barbara Hutchinson said.
Richmond International Airport also canceled two of its 12 daily flights to LaGuardia and Newark until New York facilities reopened yesterday afternoon.
In light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, airport security has been on high alert. Officials said they implemented no new safety measures in response to fears that yesterday's crash was terrorist-related, Richmond International Airport spokesman Troy Bell said.
"We've already augmented [airport] police force, enhanced security and have the help of the Virginia National Guard," Bell said. "As airports, we have a great deal of remorse for those who died in the crash, but we have to determine whether or not this was simply an isolated event related to possible mechanical failure rather than another attack."
Hutchinson also said Charlottesville's airport would not increase security unless instructed to do otherwise by the FAA.
"I don't think there are any holes at the airport that could be any more secure," she said.
The shutdown of major airports, even if only temporary, hurt small, regional airports financially as well. Because airports lose money caused by delays and cancellations, yesterday's temporary closures had an effect on airport business, Hutchinson said.
When there are airport closures, "it means that individual airlines won't be making any money on those canceled flights," she added. "That takes away from landing fees, airport revenues and other important financial mechanisms for us"
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