Chaos as US allows domestic air traffic

By TONY VERDON and AGENCIES

The US reopened its airspace yesterday under tight security - but not to foreign airlines.

The start-up of services was plagued by confusion and more anguish for stranded passengers, while a new grounding at the New York area's three major airports created further chaos.

Airports were allowed to reopen to commercial and cargo flights. Other flights resumed on a case-by-case basis. Airports had to meet a range of new federal security requirements before they could accept passengers and move planes.

However, Air New Zealand yesterday cancelled a further 14 international flights that had been scheduled for today. All three big New York-area airports, Chicago O'Hare and Los Angeles international as well as airports in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami and Dulles international in northern Virginia had met the new security standards and were cleared for business.

Boston's Logan International Airport, where two of the four hijackings originated, had not met the security requirements and remained closed.

Reagan National Airport outside Washington remained closed indefinitely because of its proximity to key federal buildings, including the Pentagon.

Late in the day, the FAA halted virtually all operations at the three New York-area airports when authorities arrested a man at Kennedy airport who police said was carrying false identification and a pilot's licence.

Airline priorities were to complete flights that were diverted during this week's emergency and reposition aircraft for new services.

The nation's entire airspace was closed early on Wednesday morning after the four airliners were hijacked. US civil aviation authorities said yesterday that normal operations looked days, or even weeks, away.

However, some American airlines hope to resume services late this weekend.

Initial transatlantic flights from European carriers were turned away, even after they were en route.

World airlines face $10 billion in immediate revenue losses and extra costs due to the terror attacks in the United States, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.

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