Burbank Airport

Laura Sturza Passengers with tickets for United Airlines flights from Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport will depart as scheduled, but starting this week, travelers flying to Denver and San Francisco have additional flight options. Some United Express flights to those destinations are on smaller, 50-seat regional jets that are an upgrade from traditional turbo-propeller planes because they are faster, quieter and more spacious, United Airlines spokesman Chris Braithwaite said.

Laura Sturza Authorities at the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport are finding that security -- the facility's 40,000-square-foot security project, to be exact -- isn't cheap. The project, projected to cost $24 million, will cost closer to $34 million, airport officials said this week. Construction of the security addition's exterior shell started in September and includes space for baggage-screening equipment, holding rooms, security personnel and an expanded baggage-check area.

Tim Willert When Cherie Craft's plane touched down at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport on May 22, 2001, her thoughts turned to work and spending time with friends and colleagues. Craft, a child and family services consultant for Boston University Medical Center, was in town to address 300 health-care professionals at the invitation of the Los Angeles County Department of Health. Dressed comfortably in jeans, a sweatshirt, sneakers and a nylon jacket, Craft, 29, retrieved her carry-on bag and got off the plane with the other passengers.

Laura Sturza While the airline industry remains volatile following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and with revenue down 42% from the previous year, the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport still increased its net worth by $18 million. The airport's net worth -- including property, investments and reserve funds -- is almost $290 million. By doubling its investment income from fiscal year 2000-01 to 2001-02 -- a boost from $3 million to $6 million -- and receiving an added $10 million in federal funding for noise insulation, the airport buffered revenue losses and expense increases.

Tim Willert Travelers catching flights at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport on Tuesday were hardly inconvenienced by a new federal directive to screen all checked luggage. Brent and Sandie Monahan and their three children waited just five minutes while federal employees screened their bags before catching an Alaska Airlines flight back home to Silverlake, Wash. "There's no more delay than normal," Monahan said. "It seems to be going smoother than last year."

Just give the airport a face-lift and be done After years and years of impasse that has taken millions of dollars from us all, the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority finally take this controversial project to the Federal Aviation Administration. What a surprise! The FAA comes back stating "Burbank Airport doesn't need a new terminal!" They also stated quite clearly that "operations in the present location can continue safely in the future as in the past."

Karen S. Kim The Glendale City Council wants to show the Federal Aviation Administration it means business when it comes to getting a new terminal at the Burbank Airport. The council will consider appointing two of its members to join a delegation that will meet with FAA officials in Washington, D.C. The delegation would include council members from Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena and members of the Airport Authority. The topic is on the council's meeting agenda for tonight.

Airport Authority is tired of incompetent politicians In reading your Nov. 20 article regarding the Glendale City Council supporting Burbank versus the airport (authority), I find it hard to see the connection. In reading your articles over a period of time, the city of Burbank has been the one fighting the Airport Authority for a long time about improving the Burbank airport. The airport at Burbank is a disgrace in the present world of air transportation.

Karen S. Kim A majority of Glendale's City Council answered Burbank's call for help Tuesday night, pledging to pitch in and join its sister city's fight for a new terminal at the airport. The pledge was prompted by the rare appearance of Burbank City Council members Stacey Murphy and Dave Golonski in Glendale's council chambers. The two Burbank officials visited Glendale to protest Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority's decision to back out of building a new terminal until it receives instructions from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Laura Sturza Travelers aren't the only ones who flock to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport -- thousands of students have wandered its buildings and planes on guided tours that have since stopped because of security restrictions. Areas of all airports were closed to the public after Sept. 11, 2001. But the local facility hosted a career day in the airport's Skyroom for 44 students from Los Angeles' Academy Pacific Travel College on Wednesday.