Future of DCA?
 

Apart form DCA, other aparts still remain closed indefinitely. Do you think these airports will shut down? DCA closing has been discussed in previous years before this but Congress and Senate have always wanted to keep it open. And after the major investment in increasing flights, new terminals and facilities; it seems a major undertaking to close completely.

Will DCA close down? Will it be solely used for government officials? Will only a part of it (terminal B & C) remain open for limited flights? What are your thoughts?



------------------
"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

Opening remark: I dislike the fragmentation of the new FT forum organization. I looked for this topic in all the airport forums and found it not. I'm glad you posted in a frequented forum. Some moderator will say "discipline!" and move it to a deserted forum soon I'm sure.

As to the thread topic, I cannot imagine the government closing DCA before exhausting all possible security improvement ideas... including special point security at airports with flights to DCA. It may be closed for several days or weeks but the trek to IAD or BWI is difficult without high speed rail service. The DCA northern approach is rich with high risk targets but our experts must be able to come up with ideas that will allow it to be a functional airport for all citizens.

As a former resident, and one who would go through all sorts of machinations to avoid flying in/out of there, I wouldn't be terribly displeased to see it go.

It's old, too small, runways too short, and next to impossible to get in or out of with your sanity intact. I'd hope our elected officials
would think of people other than themselves for once and consider closing it. You don't want to restrict it to just gov't business only because then it becomes even more of a target.

Maybe this is a good argument for thinking about commuter VTOL again?

JD

From MSN

I was horrified when the highjackers bombed the World Trade Center but, I was scared when the Pentagon was hit. I sincerely hope DCA wlll remain closed permanently!!!

We all share your feelings... A terrorist attack could hit anytime & any place.

Keeping DCA closed is basically telling the terrorists that we are giving in to you.

Most everyone in the USA has shown their spirit that we are honored to be americans.

DCA needs to be re-opened ASAP so that the Washington economy can be on its way back to normal and the citizens and visitors can begin to get back to normal.

DCA is one of the most convenient airports in the world (as far as being close in to the city)- and we need to keep it that way.

By the way, even if DCA was closed on 9/11, it would not have stopped what happened. So other than the obvious proximity, why is this airport closed? We are being a bit silly here. A plane, or car, or bus, or truck can still hit targets if determined. We are only accelerating (sp) the dive into a recession, or worse.

Sometimes I wonder if those to blame are sitting back and laughing at us and making a list of all the collateral damage that is being caused, by the imperial American people (shutdowns, economy, hassles, etc)

I have heard through various travel industry sources that DCA will be permanently closed. The military wants it as a base.

There are already a couple of bases in the DC area - Andrews AFB, MD, Bolling AFB, DC, Fort Eustis, VA, just to name a few. Any base in the MD/VA area is substantially close enough, and Bolling is just off I-295.

I would hope that DCA is not closed, especially after AS got the SEA-DCA route. It took us forever to get it, and now we're about to lose it, and BWI and IAD don't look too open.

-red_cadet

'It's simple. Put the person thing in the plane thing, and give it the miles things.'

Banning rounded end knives, but not pointed prong metal forks. Banning plastic razors etc. Yes it really does look like knee jerk stuff, much of what has gone on since. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

More on DCA and the spin off effects.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2001Sep21.html

Officials close DCA to public
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2001Sep21.html

Sen Bob Kerrey (former SEAL, I'm not sure of spelling) said on CNN tonight that we should not keep it closed any longer because it is sending a bad signal. He suggested that, if cognizant US authorities could not figure it out without a study, El Al or Mayor Guiliani could figure out quickly how to reopen it safely.

FWIW United's new timetable has flights into DCA starting up on 9/30...

9/30 is just a guess. UA has no idea when the airport will reopen. Their last interim timetable showed flights starting up 9/26. The only statement you can make with some certainty is that there definitely will not be UA flights prior to 9/30.