Associated Press
Officials at the Albuquerque International Sunport beefed up security today in the wake of a London terrorist plot but reported few problems with passengers or travel time.
Passengers in the U.S. no longer can take any liquids and gels, including toothpaste, makeup and suntan lotion, on board with them. Those items must be checked with luggage. The lone exceptions are baby formula and medicine.
Sunport spokesman Daniel Jiron said airline representatives instructed passengers to either transfer liquids to their checked luggage or take the items back to their vehicles.
''We're definitely getting the word out and hitting it as far upstream as we can,'' Jiron said.
Federal security officials raised the security alert to orange — one step below the highest level — for terminals like the Sunport, which does not have international flights.
Those dropping off or picking up passengers at the Sunport were told not to ''leave their vehicle under any circumstance,'' Jiron said.
Passengers appeared to be cooperating, Jiron said, but those who traveled from 5 to 6:30 a.m. had to wait an extra 15 to 20 minutes in line as officials learned of the new rules.
''The passengers were kind of caught off-guard,'' he said.
Jiron said airport officials asked passengers to be patient and ''realize this is for their own security.''
Santa Fe resident Arthur Fields said he had seen news earlier on the new flight restrictions and knew what to expect when he arrived at the Sunport.
Still, he said, ''I wish our country would wake up and start treating Third World countries humanely so they stop enraging the globe against us.''
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