Airport Security Seen as Smooth

As travelers heeded new warnings about bringing no liquids aboard planes, Southern California’s airports reported Saturday that security checkpoints were running efficiently.

Operations at Los Angeles International Airport were “working as smoothly as one can expect,” said spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

She said the only flights still experiencing delays were those going to and arriving from London’s Heathrow Airport.

Castles said that, overall, passengers were “incredibly cooperative. They’ve been informed, they are checking bags and what they are carrying on board is much lighter than they normally do.”

At Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, the Transportation Security Administration has added workers and extended shifts, opening all available lines.

But there was little for them to do Saturday, typically the slowest travel day of the week, said Tom Janowitz, airport operations supervisor.

Passengers were toting fewer carry-ons and had been advised to report early for flights, he said.

“Yesterday and today we’ve literally had no security lines at all,” Janowitz said. “Everything is going very smoothly.... It beats my expectations.”

Travelers are apparently paying attention to the new rules about liquids on planes.

By Saturday afternoon, two trash cans at one Burbank security checkpoint were only about one-fourth full of discarded liquids, mostly bottles of juice and soft drinks.

“I believe people have gotten used to it already and are packing liquids or gels in their check-in luggage,” Janowitz said. “There is an additional amount of check-in luggage.”

The story was similar at Long Beach Airport, where public affairs officer Sharon DiggsJackson said there were no delays or problems Saturday, though there was a significant increase in checked baggage.

“I think people have pretty much made the adjustment and understand what they need to bring or not bring,” DiggsJackson said.

Officials at Ontario International Airport and Orange County’s John Wayne Airport reported that operations were normal for a summer Saturday.

Among the popular items banned in carry-on luggage are eye drops, hand sanitizers, liquid soap, lip gloss, mascara, nail polish, nonessential liquid medications, perfume, shampoo, toothpaste and topical creams.

Passengers were advised to check the TSA’s website at www.tsa.gov for a list of what may be packed in checked luggage and carry-on bags.