Flights resume to U.S., airport security tight

Diplomatic representatives are still unable to confirm all the names of those Belizeans missing in the September eleventh terrorist attack on the United States of America. Consular officials will be holding meetings in both New York and Washington on Tuesday, when U.S. authorities are expected to release full lists of those not yet accounted for. It is believed that five Belizeans are among those missing at the World Trade Center, while one has not been heard from following the inferno at the Pentagon. Meanwhile, as U.S. air traffic begins to return to near normal levels, flights in and out of Belize on American, Continental and TACA finally began running over the weekend. But as Jacqueline Woods discovered, while the airlines are working through their backlog of stranded passengers, things have changed in the world of air travel.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Although flights between Belize and the U.S. have resumed, it was definitely not business as usual at the Philip Goldson International Airport. The Belize Airports Authority, acting on instructions sent to them by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States, first had to put in place certain security measures before any flights from Belize could land in the U.S.

Louis Escobar, Chief Security Officer, P.G.I.A.

“These directives were specific that if the airport does not put these measures in place, no flight would come to Belize and since then we have in place all the directives sent by the F.A.A.

We have been checking everyone that comes to the airport. Body checks and luggage checks, which means that anyone who enters the terminal building will be checked. We are looking for items mainly knives, regardless of the size, knives and nail clippers and any pointed or edged weapons. “

Since the exercise started a number of knives have been confiscated. Passengers and luggage arriving on domestic flights are also checked. Escobar says they have also removed any prohibited items from the shops inside the airport.

Jacqueline Woods

“The security checks have caused some delays here at the airport so passengers are being asked to arrive at least three hours before their departure time.”

Louis Escobar

“So that if they would meet a long line at the airport they would have enough time to reach the counter for them to check in to ensure that they will get on that flight.”

While the heightened security measures may have meant longer waits for passengers, nobody seemed to mind.

Tourist #1

“They make me feel a little bit more secured about it. I don’t mind it all. The more secured the better. I don’t care how long it takes.”

Tourist #2

“We had to come a lot earlier which is okay it’s okay with us, we don’t mind.”

Tourist #3

“A lot earlier.”

Jacqueline Woods

“Where did you get the information from did you have to call the airline?”

Tourist #3

“We went to the airline and checked in.”

Jacqueline Woods

“And how much time they said you had to get here?”

Tourist #3

“They told us two, but we came three.”

Jacqueline Woods

“What do you think about the security checks here at the airport?”

Tourist #3

“I think they are doing a pretty good job.”

It’s too early to tell if the security measures have affected business at the terminal, but Eden Holland who operates Jet’s bar in the departure lounge, says sales have been slow.

Eden Holland, Owner, Jet’s Bar, P.G.I.A.

“So it’s kind of difficult for me right now. I mostly depend on the people from Continental, but you know whenever the flight comes in, sometimes well it’s almost time for them to board because the plane comes in here 1:30, almost two o’clock and as you can see up to now almost no one has come in here as yet.”

As for the passengers, arriving at the airport on time does not necessarily means you will get on a flight. Most airlines are asking passengers to check with their office first before heading to the airport. Gloria Humes, who was scheduled to leave last Wednesday wasn’t sure if she would leave today because when she arrived at the P.G.I.A. she found out that she was not on the confirmed list.

Gloria Humes, Passenger

“I tell them we keep asking when the planes due to fly out. One spell they told us it was opened in the morning and by the evening it was off again it was closed again, so they had us all confused. It was frustrating all the time.”

But most tourists managed to make the best of a bad situation. Many visitors who were stranded in Belize say they enjoyed the extra days, even though they had to make some adjustments.

Tourists #4

“We are fortunate to be in Placencia at a resort. It’s a double edge sword, we got to stay in a nice place, but at the same time we wanted to get back.”

Jacqueline Woods

“It didn’t cost you anything extra to stay a few more days in Belize?”

Tourist #2

“Oh yes it cost us extra. We had to be more economical we had to moved hotels and watched our money a little bit.”