Fewer flights not a problem
By Jacque Nguyen
Staff Reporter

Although airlines are canceling some international flights to and from the United States because of war in Iraq, TCU officials say students and staff should not expect difficulties with future traveling.

John Singleton, director of International Student Services, said he does not expect any problems with students trying to enter the United States that are coming to study at TCU. The basic rules to enter the country have not changed, but procedures are going to be more strict, he said.

“(Students) still need to have their basic immigration documents, but with every ‘t’ crossed and every ‘i’ dotted,” Singleton said.

However, Singleton said, students will now need a copy of their academic transcript to verify that he or she is a student that is traveling for studying purposes.

Representatives at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport said no problems or issues have been reported at the airport since Level Orange measures, meaning a high risk of terrorist attacks, went into effect Tuesday.

“Operations at DFW are continuing as normal under Level Orange mandates,” Vice President of Public Affairs Ken Capps said. “DFW will continue to operate with these security measures until further notice, or until Homeland Security advises a change.”

Singleton said the State Department has identified a list of countries as potential terrorist countries, and people arriving from these countries have to go through a different registration, which includes being fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed.

He said the interview includes questions such as what the student is studying, why the student is studying, what the future plans are for the obtained degree, if he or she knows any terrorists and if he or she is a terrorist.

In a press release, American Airlines representatives said the airline has reduced its international flying for April by 6 percent as its initial response to the conflict in the Middle East.

“It is clear that people are becoming more tentative about booking international travel at this point in time,” said Henry Joyner, American Airlines’ senior vice president of planning.

Priya Chandy, a freshman engineering major, said she has not decided if she will travel back to the United Arab Emirates for the summer, but the decision is not based on potential traveling difficulties.

“Traveling shouldn’t be a problem,” Chandy said. “It just depends on which way you go and which airlines you fly. Unless the war intensifies, I don’t think there will be any difficulties.”

Chandy said she is concerned that once someone travels out of the United States, he or she will not be able to re-enter.

Delta Air Lines representatives said in a press release that the airline is decreasing its domestic and international flights by 12 percent in response to declining passenger demand caused by the military action in Iraq.

Delta representatives say some of the changes may be in effect longer if passenger demand for international routes remains weak as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

Frederic Guibaud, an MBA student, said he will be traveling home to Germany in the summer and has not experienced any difficulties so far with his flight. He said he will keep checking in with the airline for updates on his flight.

According to their Web site, Lufthansa German Airlines have made schedule changes in flights, including canceling flights to and from Kuwait and Damman, Saudi Arabia.

“Military action in the Middle East and the resulting heightened security sensitivities have contributed to a steep decline in passenger demand within the airline industry,” said Subodh Karnik, Delta Air Lines’ senior vice president of network and revenue management.

Jacque Nguyen