It seems simple to me--
While the administration is putting on a full court press saying we should return to the sky--they don't believe the words coming out of their own mouths.
If they don't believe they can secure one small airport (DCA) sufficiently to safeguard our nation's top decision makers, federal agencies, and landmarks, then none of us are safe flying out of any US airport. Period.
Think how much more effective and symbolic it would have been if Bush had held his air safety event at DCA today, while announcing the re-opening of DCA. Nope--he went to ORD to do it.
I'll keep flying. But clearly the administration has surrendered to the terrorists when it comes to the nation's capitol.

C'mon. I want the airport opened and quickly, but it has only been a little over two weeks since the attack. The government has to try to secure something that is inherently insecure and realisticly can't be done but based upon congressional action and the force of local politicians I think that we will hear an announcement soon.

We are still on heightened alert, and nerves have to calm down. Let's not forget that the approach from the north gives a complete view of the damage to the Pentagon. People are also going to be sensitive to the sound of planes roaring low overhead when DCA reopens.

Regarding his visit to ORD; where else are you going to find two major hub operations for the nation's largest airlines that also happen to be the airlines that lost planes, pax, and staff in the tragedy? DCA is important, but I think that Bush went to the right airport to make his announcement.

CWPFLY

I tend to agree with RDouglas. The President could have staged the event at DCA, using AA and UA planes and the US Capitol as backdrop, and made one hell of a statement of opening DCA.

But, he didn't. Still, OPEN DCA!

don't think this is a political issue, decision would have been the same no matter who was president. It's a question of security. Which trumps convenience, feel good politics, image, making a statement, blah blah...

According to a new report on YAHOO DCA will reopen... didn't see a date..

Doomed to Coach

Leaving DCA closed means one of the following:
- they do not believe we are secure at other airports, meaning something could happen here

- they do not have intelligent management looking at the real situation - it would be easier to hit the capital on a flight out of BWI or Dulles.

- They are all chicken sh*ts and unable to make a decision

This decision or lack of has nothing to do with safety. Instead it contributes to the public fear and the layoffs nationwide. Many of the airports, large and small across America are now laying off workers. I would not be surprised if you could easily find a million people out of work right now all tied to "safety".

Please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/002978.html

I do not support keeping DCA closed, and I firmly believe that it will reopen.

The issue that the government is grappling with is how to protect government targets (yes, this implicitly values the Pentagon or White House above buildings in other major cities with close proximity to an airport, say Manhattan, perhaps) when there is only a few minutes response time available if something else does go wrong.

No airport in the US will ever be (nor ever was) impregnable. DCA will reopen once government officials believe they can nullify the threat aircraft launched from the airport potentially entail against local targets.

I agree with you. Protecting our nation's capital is more important than personal convenience.