Los Angeles officials brief City Council on airport security and citywide response after Sept. 11 attacks

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and city public-safety leaders told the City Council on Sept. 19 that airport operations were restarting under much tighter security and that the city’s emergency response — including police, fire and the Emergency Operations Center — had been activated and remains on heightened alert following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Why it matters: Los Angeles is a major air-transport hub and a local economic engine. The city’s officials described immediate security shifts that affect travelers, businesses and city revenues, and they said they will press the federal government for funding and regulatory changes.

LAWA executive director Lydia Kennard said the agency implemented emergency plans immediately after the attacks, ordered terminal evacuations and coordinated wide security sweeps, including canine teams. "LAX and Ontario were among the first commercial airports in the country to be certified to be reopened," Kennard said, and added that the agency reopened with “limited airline operations” while complying with new federal security requirements.

Kennard listed measures now in force at Los Angeles airports: only ticketed passengers or those with ticket confirmations…