D.C. Area Airports Add Vehicle Checks, Bomb-Sniffing Dogs

Washington area airports began randomly inspecting vehicles yesterday after an attack on Scotland's Glasgow Airport, but travelers appeared unfazed by the beefed-up security measures.

Working with the Transportation Security Administration, police at Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport operated at an increased level of vigilance, airport officials said, although they would not say whether security staffing had increased.

"Basically, we have a pretty robust security plan in place already," said Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Security on Metro was unchanged, spokeswoman Cathy Asato said.

Jonathan Dean, a BWI spokesman, said the airport had begun a variety of security initiatives but would not specify their exact nature. No airports reported any security-related delays.

Bomb-sniffing dogs and security guards with large guns casually strolled National Airport yesterday afternoon, but they went largely unnoticed by travelers more concerned with getting off the ground than avoiding a terrorist attack.

"That's Europe -- we're America," Sharon Brower said of the attack as she waited for a flight home to Durango, Colo. "What could I do, anyway?"

The United States began adding air marshals to international flights because of concerns about terrorist threats originating from Europe. Also, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport was briefly evacuated yesterday morning after the discovery of a suspicious package, which turned out to be harmless.

The increased caution came in response to several incidents, the most notable being the attack at Glasgow in which two men drove a jeep containing propane gas into the entrance of the main airport terminal. The U.S. alert level for airports remained at "orange" yesterday, indicating the second-highest risk of terrorist attacks. Nationally, it remained at "yellow," indicating the third-highest risk.

Waiting for a flight at National, Xela Pinkerton, 20, of Greenville, S.C., said the threat of a terrorist attack is so constant she has become used to it. But she said she would like to see increased security at airports at all times, not just after attacks.

"Threats and everything like that are almost inevitable," Pinkerton said. "It's more dangerous driving the highway."

The most common sentiment among travelers at National: Terrorists will not ruin any Fourth of July celebrations.

"This doesn't represent a deterrent to the enjoyment of my summer vacation," said Brendan McLaughlin, who was on his way home to Tampa.

McLaughlin's wife, Sandy, agreed: "Can't stay home. Can't stay in your closet."