Re: our post Friday in regard to Delta’s expansion out of LAX. Here’s the official press release.

A funny thing happened today as I was rewriting and editing this week’s PBB. A note came in from a reader asking me if I had heard any of the online chatter concerning a build-up by Delta Air Lines out of LAX.

No, I hadn’t, since I’d had my head in my, er, computer keyboard pretty much nonstop all day. (The last week of Acute Airlines Earnings Euphoria, thank god.)

Well, guess what?

The new routes were included in Lehman Brothers’ capacity report this morning, and this afternoon the additions to the tapes were confirmed.

Seems like Delta decided to just dump the new routes with no fanfare whatsoever. But they are in there.

According to Lehman,

“Delta added a number of Los Angeles markets this week, which given the tentative nature of schedules bears watching, in our opinion. Effective in December, Delta adds service to Las Vegas (twice daily) as well as international service to Guatemala City, Le Paz (Mexico) and Liberia (Costa Rica). Further, Delta added a number of markets in January and beyond, including twice daily service from Los Angeles to Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento as well as a number of Latin markets. Current schedules for February 2007 and beyond show Delta scheduling an average of 60 daily departures to 32 destinations, including 18 domestic destinations.”

I’m not sure what my response here is. Maybe “wonderment” would be a good choice. “Shock” would be a bit too strong. “Perplexed” could work.

Okay, now that we’ve all had time to digest the news from today and, as we hear now, there are even more changes that are going to be made in U.S. airport security procedures tomorrow by the Transportation Security Administration — just a couple of comments.

One, if Scotland Yard did indeed foil a grand plot to blow up a series of aircraft, then that’s great. And that is what they should be doing. Bravo to them.

Two, so now we have the details of yet another way to blow up an airplane. Not surprisingly, now millions of people have to be treated as potential terrorists with the latest TSA restrictions concerning any “liquids” being brought onboard.

But British Airways continues to ban any electronic equipment onboard as well. As least as of tonight. Will TSA officials on this side of the pond move towards a similar ban?

So where is all of this going to end?

Not happily I’m afraid.

And yes, “afraid” is the key word.

For five years we have had to live with a TSA that is about as effective as FEMA. And just about as cost-effective.

As I wrote earlier this year in PlaneBusiness Banter, given the then-current screening processes the TSA had in place, did any of us really feel that much safer?

Not really. Reading email feedback after that column it was clear most of our subscribers felt the same way. The most effective change that had been made to affect onboard security? The securing of cockpit doors. Oh, and the fact there might be a few guns on the airplane — in any number of hands.

Meanwhile, there is the TSA. A whole lot of money and a whole lot of bureaucracy, but not much else. Oh, and then there are those color codes from Homeland Security. Yes, those are so very helpful.

What concerns me now is that the TSA and the powers behind TSA are going to go “overboard” as they attempt to “protect” the U.S. airline passenger. Why? We all know why. Because the TSA wants people to think it’s doing something to protect us. This is, after all, the war on terror. It’s important to look like the TSA is being effective.

But if the TSA is truly effective, then why isn’t all checked baggage screened for bombs?

Why is it that cargo that is shipped on our passenger aircraft is not screened?

But oh no, that $22 bottle of Clinique some woman had to ditch this morning before she boarded her flight is important. It could contain peroxide.

Bottomline my concern is, as it usually is, for the financial health and well-being of a very fragile industry — ours. The airline industry.

We saw how the industry was hit twice after the attacks of 9/11. First by the event itself, and then by the effects of long security lines, ever-changing TSA mandates at airports, inadequate screening areas, and more.

We’ll see how the next couple of weeks pan out.

But yes, I’m concerned.

Not about a potential attack. But more about the TSA imposing such heavy-handed “security” mandates that the airline industry finds itself impacted quite negatively as passengers decide, for any number of reasons, that perhaps that next trip is not necessary after all.

Like I say, we’ll see.

According to the latest TSA posting on their website, here is the latest official TSA position on electronic items. Note: this is only for U.S. domestic flights.

Question: Media have also reported that laptops, cell phones and electronic items are no longer allowed. Is that true?

Answer: No. TSA continues to allow laptop computers, cell phones and other electronic items.

Unfortunately the good news stops when it comes to ANY liquid substance. Deodorant, make-up, liquid medicine, eye drops, hair spray, you name it. It also sounds like conditions and restrictions continue to be different at different airports.

Here’s s snippet of a post from yet another flight attendant this morning:

“The entire SFO operation was a zoo to put it mildly. No liquids allowed on the plane period. Then they began re-searching bags at the podium because they discovered some passengers came in from the Islands and were connecting. TSA kept changing their policies as they were learning of them and it was at first no liquids period, then the policy extended to aerosol cans, then next came aerosol cans were allowed then the shoes off policy went into effect and everything kept changing. All this happened in the 15 minutes I was in line to get screened (I went to the front of the line).”

eWeek.com reports this morning,

“The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is only restricting liquids and gels on all flights originating in the United States, a spokesperson told eWEEK Aug. 10. But that doesn’t mean you can take electronic devices on all flights as carry-on luggage.

As a result of the change in the terrorist threat level to Code Red, or Severe, on flights to the United States from the United Kingdom, significant restrictions exist on those flights, including, in some cases, elimination of all electronics of any kind from carry-on luggage.

In a statement released early in the morning on Aug. 10, British Airways said it will not allow electronics of any kind in carry-on luggage on its flights. This includes, according to the statement, iPods, laptop computers, cell phones, BlackBerrys, and even electronic car keys and key fobs. eWEEK has also been told by several sources that screeners at some airports in the United States are similarly restricting electronics. However, a spokesperson at the TSA has not been able to confirm this.

U.S. airlines contacted by eWEEK, including United Air Lines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines, say that they are not placing any such restrictions on domestic flights, but said they are following the lead of transportation officials elsewhere.”

Well, I guess this means I’m not flying anywhere anytime soon, as I am not checking my laptop in checked baggage. Not even my cell phone. No way. And we all know there are two reasons for this. One, laptops are not made to be thrown around in baggage holds, and two, they are just way too tempting for TSA employees with sticky fingers.

Clearly the big problem with reports such as these coming out this morning? There does not seem to be consistency in what is being asked of passengers at different airports.

A PlaneBusiness Banter subscriber who is a flight attendant with a major airline checks in with his account of how things are going this morning:

Subject: It sucks at the airport this AM

Unbelievable!!

There is no distinction between domestic and international, everyone is being told to toss ANY iquid/gel, including toothpaste, perfume/cologne,
contact solution, hair products.

There is no distinction between passengers and crewmembers. All are being told to take off their shoes and toss their items. What happened to being a “certified”, “background checked” crewmember????

On the positive side, I have a turn line this month, meaning I was only carrying a backpack anyway, as I’m home every day.

Just ugly, and I don’t feel a bit safer, in a tube full of pissed off passengers.

Have a great day!!!!

Oh, yes, you too!