Planes stay put, travel on hold

10.00 am - By STAFF REPORTERS

The global aviation industry stood still for the second straight day today as flights were halted, airports closed and passengers stranded following terror attacks in the United States.

US airlines were losing millions of dollars as industrious travellers rented cars, chartered buses and flocked to train stations. A 4 am today the goal by carriers to restart US flights passed with no resumption.

The Federal Aviation Administration said yesterday it would permit a limited reopening of US air space but continued a ban on regular service indefinitely. Carriers hoping to fly by noon quickly changed plans.

Some 23,000 US daily air departures were not taking off, according to estimates from the Air Transport Association. Major airports like Chicago's O'Hare International were turning away passengers.

Any international flights originating in the United States were also stopped. European carriers were still in talks with US officials.

An estimated 1.67 million passengers take to the skies each day in the United States but were on the ground.

Marianne McInerney, executive director of the National Business Travel Association, was one of those stranded. She rented a car and drove back to Virginia from Chicago. "Everywhere I stopped, there was someone doing the same thing," she said. "It was a strange fraternity to be in."

United Airlines said it would only operate a small part of its departures.

United, based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, had two jets crash on Tuesday. "The focus today is on getting passengers on our diverted aircraft to their destinations wherever possible," a spokeswoman said.

Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines did not yet have any information on when its flights would resume. American is a unit of AMR Corp and is the world's largest airline.

Two of its Boeing aircraft also crashed, one into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. Both carriers released partial lists of passengers and crew.

Delta Air Lines Inc., the third largest US airline, cancelled all flights until at least 10 am today.

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said yesterday security concerns prevented a full resumption of US airline service. He wanted to lift a national ban on civil aviation at noon yesterday.

Europe's busiest airports were crowded and disrupted but still operating yesterday as thousands of passengers trying to reach the United States, Canada or Israel were left stranded.

Israel closed Ben Gurion international airport to non-Israeli planes. British Airways also cancelled flights to Islamabad in Pakistan while Italy's Alitalia said it cancelled flights to Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran.

The New Zealand Herald will publish another special edition this morning with extensive coverage of the terrorist attacks in the USA. Look for your copy on sale throughout the Herald circulation area at noon.

Full coverage: Terror in America

Pictures

Video

The fatal flights

Emergency telephone numbers for friends and family of victims and survivors

These numbers are valid for calls from within New Zealand, but may be overloaded at the moment.

United Airlines: 0168 1800 932 8555

American Airlines: 0168 1800 245 0999

NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 0800 872 111

US Embassy in Wellington (recorded info): 04 472 2068

Online database for friends and family of victims and survivors

Air New Zealand flights affected

Air NZ flight information: 0800 737-000.