Warns Weather Still Culprit Of Congestion

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta says new schedule cutbacks at O'Hare International Airport should reduce delays, except during periods of bad weather. Under pressure from the Department of Transportation, United Airlines and American Airlines voluntarily agreed in January to reduce their peak-hour schedules by 5 percent starting March 4. United and American account for about 88 percent of flights at O'Hare. O'Hare suffered serious delays in November and December, which caused more than a 10 percent increase in average delays at the nation's 35 largest airports. The schedule cutbacks, which affect flights between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., will expire in six months.

Says St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport Is Too Busy

Less than a month into his new job, Noah Lagos has a problem most business owners would welcome -- too much growth. Lagos began his tenure as the airport director for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport Feb. 16. Since that time he's decided the airport not only can do better managing its resources but also needs to do it on a more controlled basis. With the highest passenger growth rate in Florida and the third highest in the country, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport served an estimated 1 million passengers in 2003. Eight low-cost air carriers offer non-stop service direct from the airport to 17 destinations throughout the United States and Canada. At that rate, it is estimated that by the end of