CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
May 8, 2007 | From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Travelers using John Wayne Airport will have another nonstop option starting in September. American Airlines is adding one direct flight a day between Orange County and Austin, Texas, the Fort Worth-based carrier announced Monday. Currently the airport offers nonstop flights to 23 destinations, spokeswoman Jenny Wedge said. The airport itself is also expanding, having begun construction in December on a parking garage and a third terminal to be completed by 2010. John Wayne handles about 9.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
December 7, 2004 | From Times Staff Reports
John Wayne Airport was at a standstill for several hours early Monday after a passenger retrieved a carry-on bag, which contained a suspicious device, before a screener could inspect it, officials said. The incident, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m., prompted the evacuation of passengers already aboard 10 planes and of hundreds more passengers in waiting areas. Police dogs searched the area and passengers were re-screened before the airport reopened about 10:30 a.m.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
December 2, 2004 | From Associated Press
A Yorba Linda man charged in federal court with attempting to board a plane at John Wayne Airport with a loaded handgun, folding knife and 10 syringes in his carry-on bag has pleaded guilty to one of three counts in a plea deal. Ali Reza Khatami, 65, was scheduled to go on trial next week on a three-count indictment of attempting to carry a concealed weapon onto an aircraft. He pleaded guilty to carrying the loaded handgun Tuesday in exchange for the promise of a lenient sentence.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
June 22, 2004 | Susan Anasagasti, Times Staff Writer
New security checkpoints have opened at John Wayne Airport, shortening the passenger wait by half, officials said. Justin McCusker, an airport spokesman, said 3,400 feet of floor space was added in the main terminal to make room for eight additional screening lines, four at each of the north and south ends of the terminal. McCusker said airport officials had wanted the checkpoints to be completed by the July 4 weekend, when the summer travel season booms. County supervisors approved the $4.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
February 7, 2004 | From Times Staff Reports
SANTA ANA A pilot escaped injury Friday when he missed the runway at John Wayne Airport and landed in a field, officials said. No one on the ground was injured and no flights were affected after the 2:30 p.m. incident, an airport spokesman said. The pilot, who was not identified, was landing the Extra 300, an acrobatic aircraft, but skidded off the runway and ended up in a grassy area, said Justin McCusker, an airport spokesman. Damage to the aircraft was minimal, he said.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 17, 2004 | Dan Weikel, Times Staff Writer
Bolstered by heavy travel over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, John Wayne Airport reached a record 8.5 million passengers in 2003, officials said Friday. On Dec. 1 alone, the airport handled 31,518 passengers, most of them returning from their Thanksgiving holidays. It was the busiest day in the history of the airport, John Wayne officials say. "Business is definitely good," airport director Alan Murphy said.