Airport Check-in: Houston airports face $14M clean-up bill

— -- The commercial airports in Houston — Bush Intercontinental and Hobby — suffered about $14 million of damage from Hurricane Ike.

Repairing Hobby, which serves only domestic flights, will cost about $9.4 million to address flooding in the central concourse, roof damage and the collapse of the main canopy in the passenger drop-off area, spokeswoman Marlene McClinton says.

At Bush Intercontinental, about $4.8 million will be needed to repair water damage around the automated people mover in Terminal B and flooding in Customs and Terminal C.

Runways and taxiways at the airport were spared from damage.

The airports reopened on Sept. 16, after closing for four days around the hurricane.

All flights have now resumed after the airlines gradually built up their schedules in the past two weeks, McClinton says.

ATLANTA

Faster security lanes to open

After months of negotiations, the registered traveler lanes are opening this week at the world's busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield International.

The registered traveler program, overseen by the Transportation Security Administration, provides speedy security clearance through a separate line for pre-screened subscribers who pay about $100 a year.

New York-based Clear, the largest among the industry's three competitors, will run Atlanta's program. Its two lanes will be located in the main terminal near the existing security checkpoint. Nineteen U.S. airports currently offer registered traveler lanes.

DALLAS

Top customers get faster check-in lanes

American Airlines will introduce speedier lanes to allow its top customers to check in, clear security and board faster.

The lanes, called PriorityAAcess, will be rolled out Tuesday at its home airport, Dallas/Fort Worth, and at other large airports, including Chicago O'Hare, New York Kennedy and LaGuardia, Miami, Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Francisco, Boston and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Elite members of its frequent-flier program, full-fare coach customers, AAirpass members, and passengers in business and first class can use the lanes.