Holden discusses security at airports

ST. LOUIS -- Gov. Bob Holden didn't have reservations about making a late afternoon flight from the city's Lambert Airport to Kansas City International Airport on Thursday, and he doesn't think fellow Missourians should, either.

"I hope you all bought airplane tickets today," Holden joked after meeting with a group of local law enforcement officials in St. Louis. He planned to hold a similar meeting with officials at KCI.

"My message is that Missouri is prepared, and I believe the facilities are very safe," Holden said. "I would encourage people to now start considering flying again and know they are in good hands."

Holden made his comments in a lobby overlooking the security checkpoint for Lambert's two main concourses. The checkpoint lines, routinely short before last week's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, were 30 to 40 people deep as Holden spoke.

The lines at ticket counters, where all passengers now must check luggage after new Federal Aviation Adminstration-mandated security rules shut down curbside check-in, were much longer.

Like at all major airports nationwide, security at Lambert is much tighter following the attacks. The most visible difference, aside from the long lines, is expanded staffing of uniformed police personnel.

Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department supplement the St. Louis Airport Police. Airport police chief Paul Mason said St. Louis city police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol have also offered officers, should they be needed.

"We have worked very hard, all the airport employees and tenants," Mason said. "We think we are ready and we are doing the very best we can, and we are constantly reviewing it."