National: Security, Insecurity

Friday, September 28, 2001; Page A38

THE FATES and livelihoods of tens of thousands of Americans are inextricably tied to the fate of Reagan National Airport. As military authorities keep noting, security is a most serious concern at this capital area air terminal -- but so is the insecurity of a nation's capital threatened with the deep, lasting damage to its economy that National's loss would represent. Is there no prudent way for America's Airport to reopen? When will the jobless -- whose ranks are swelling by the day -- know one way or the other? How long will everyone -- including airport officials -- be kept hanging, with no clue about a decision? Who is making this call, anyway?

Lack of airport security -- across the entire United States -- was at issue before Sept. 11 and now must be addressed with a new commitment and sense of urgency. In the case of Reagan National, extraordinary measures may be in order. Completing these plans may require some time. But if the decision is to cave in to the events of Sept. 11 and let the capital region become one of the worst-served air markets in the country, the people who are suffering need to know it now, and they need to know why such a disastrous decision is necessary.

While the president and Congress are taking steps to rescue the airline industry, the shutdown at National is killing certain airlines. Perhaps these carriers were doomed anyway, but depriving them of this chance to survive is difficult to justify. Shifting flights to Dulles and BWI works on a temporary basis, while fewer people are flying. But both those terminals already are investing billions for expansion just to handle their own projected growth. At Dulles, even those investments are in jeopardy; new work is being suspended until the fate of National is decided. Permanently absorbing National's passenger load (20 percent of which uses Metro, not roads) would cripple air travel in the region for generations to come.

Secrecy is important in developing new measures to protect the airspace over this capital area. But not disclosing a word about whether the airport will ever again be open sends a message and speaks volumes nonetheless -- not only that the economy is being hurt but that coming to the nation's capital is not a good idea. A far better message would be that the nation's capital is determined to keep its travel centers open and well secured, and its economy strong.