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Reno airport open

Susan Wood

People are free to fly out of Reno/Tahoe International Airport now, but they’re advised to pack their patience.

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted air restrictions at the northern Nevada airport Thursday, and some carriers chose to run a limited schedule.

“We’re still some time away from the airlines’ running a full schedule,” Washoe County Airport Authority spokesman Adam Mayberry said. “But things are running smoothly. I think people understand this is a national issue.”



American and United airlines, two carriers that each lost two of their planes with crews and passengers in Tuesday’s air terrorist attack, resumed flying and released the list of fatalities Thursday. America West and Northwest Airlines also took to the skies Thursday.

Delta, Alaska, Continental and Southwest airlines chose to forego their schedules. The latter accounts for about 40 percent of the passenger counts flying in and out of the airport.



The airport authority advises travelers to check the individual airlines’ toll-free numbers or Web sites to make their flying arrangements.

As people begin to get up to speed on flying, they will find heightened security measures at the airport. It’s recommended passengers arrive two hours prior to departure.

Motorists parking at the airport must use the lot south of the parking structure, which is currently off limits because of a new federal mandate. The structure accounts for 2,200 of the 3,500 parking spaces at the airport.

“We hope to eventually get the parking structure at least partially open,” Mayberry said.

Other restrictions include no curbside check-ins, no knives allowed in carry-on baggage and only ticketed passengers may go beyond security checkpoints.

When the FAA ordered the first groundstop in U.S. history, Reno had 20 planes on the ground, including one diversion. The airport averages 83 flights a day.


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