Laura Sturza
The air above Burbank has been busier lately -- this month alone
has seen 31 more flight departures per week than in May from the
Burbank- Glendale-Pasadena Airport.
But the variation is in line with figures from past months, which
range from 69 to 77 daily departures -- showing that the airline
industry is continuing its slow recovery from the terrorist attacks
Sept. 11.
In June, about 77 flights have left the airport each day.
The new flights were added to the 510 weekly flights in May,
spreading the noise impact area from 265 acres to a projected 290
acres, Airport Authority spokesman Victor Gill said.
Other months show decreased service -- in March, 69 daily
departures and 71 in April, based on figures from the Airport
Authority.
Projections show September flights will be at about 75 daily
departures, the same number as the year before the terrorist attacks.
"The airlines are a fluid industry and they are constantly
adjusting their schedules," Gill said, adding that seasonal travel
patterns often drive the changes, with summer being a heavier travel
time.
While Airport Authority commissioners are not required to report
these changes in reports to the City Council, residents have
questioned whether flight information should be included.
"Anything that the commission takes action on is what we report,"
Burbank Commissioner Don Brown said.
The Airport Authority cannot enforce flight times or number of
flights since the federal government's deregulation of the airline
industry. But it has a voluntary curfew urging airlines to avoid
flying after 10 p.m. and before 7 a.m., which officials say is 95%
adhered to by carriers.
Yet Burbank Mayor David Laurell said he thinks this information
should be reported at council meetings, including flights that are
added or subtracted, or curfews that are broken.
Commissioner Charlie Lombardo recently reported curfew violations
by United Airlines, some of which were changed following the Airport
Authority's request to do so.
