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Lambert Airport is being rewarded for what analysts are calling "prudent fiscal management".

The Fitch Ratings Agency upgraded the facilities credit rating to BBB+. The rating cited stability in air traffic and an adequate ability to meet financial commitments.

Fitch assigns ratings that range from D at the low end up to AAA. BBB+ is considered in to be at the high end of mid-grade investments.

 

Long lines are being reported at Lambert Airport this morning due to sequestration.

What happens in the air today is being closely watched. Commercial airline flights moved smoothly throughout most of the country yesterday, the first day air traffic controllers were subject to furloughs resulting from government spending cuts.

Today is a heavier air traffic day and is seen as the first big test with the furloughs in place.

Passengers at Los Angeles International Airport met with long delays and flight cancellations yesterday - as furloughs for air traffic controllers kicked in under the federal budget "sequester." 

Here is what a Southwest Airlines ticket agent telling frustrated passengers a flight to Las Vegas was canceled."Get angry. Get irritated. It's not gonna make it good. We don't want you to be here. We didn't know this was gonna happen, trust me."

Passengers are urged to check on the status of their flight before heading to Lambert Airport on Monday.

Long lines are being reported at Lambert Airport this morning due to sequestration.

What happens in the air today is being closely watched. Commercial airline flights moved smoothly throughout most of the country yesterday, the first day air traffic controllers were subject to furloughs resulting from government spending cuts.

Today is a heavier air traffic day and is seen as the first big test with the furloughs in place.

Passengers at Los Angeles International Airport met with long delays and flight cancellations yesterday - as furloughs for air traffic controllers kicked in under the federal budget "sequester." 

Here is what a Southwest Airlines ticket agent telling frustrated passengers a flight to Las Vegas was canceled."Get angry. Get irritated. It's not gonna make it good. We don't want you to be here. We didn't know this was gonna happen, trust me."

Passengers are urged to check on the status of their flight before heading to Lambert Airport on Monday.

   Late Tuesday night, some American Airlines passengers were still waiting to get to their destinations after a computer glitch grounded the carrier's flights most of the day.  

   American officials say a problem with their flight reservations system forced them to cancel or delay more than 700 flights across the country, including more than 20 Lambert Airport flights.  

   The glitch was resolved around 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, too late for some passengers, who'll have to wait to travel until Wednesday.

   Check aa.com for flight information.

 

Want to save money picking up a passenger at Lambert? 

You might want to use the cell phone lots since parking rates go up today. They are doubling.  The price to park per hour is going up from $2.50 an hour to $5.00.

The new parking rates, approved this month and set to go into effect on Monday, replace the $2.50-per-hour price now in effect in the two garages. They are expected to generate an extra $1.5 million a year.

The cell phone lot for Terminal 1 is one-half mile east of Cypress on Lambert International Blvd.  The cell phone lot for Terminal 2 inside Lambert’s cargo city complex on Air Cargo Road.

Starting April 1st, it will cost more to park at Lambert Airport. As expected, the Airport Authority on Wednesday, moved to raise short term parking rates.

At the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 garages, the rates will change from $2.50 an hour to $5 for the first two hours or any fraction of that. Parking rates for lots A, B, and D will increase as well, but the rates at lot C will remain the same.

The rate hikes will serve two purposes. They'll raise about $1.5 million in additional revenue each year, and discourage those picking up passengers from using the very busy Terminal 1 and 2 parking lots. Airport officials are promoting the use of the two free cell-phone lots instead.

Air travelers might want to check on any connecting flights before heading out of Lambert Airport.

Lambert spokesman Jeff Lea tells KTRS news 16 arrivals have been cancelled as of 10:00 a.m.and 19 departures cancelled, the majority from Chicago.

If you're heading north or east or have a connecting flight through Chicago, airlines are canceling nearly 1,000 flights at Chicago's two airports because of a winter storm that's expected to dump up to 10 inches of snow on northern Illinois.

Most the canceled flights are at O'Hare International Airport.

Expect to pay more to park at Lambert Airport beginning next month. That's the word from the St. Louis Airport Commission which is expected to vote this week to increase the rate to park.

Parking at the airport's two primary garages would go from $2.50 per hour, up to $5 for the first two hours, or any fraction of that time. Under the proposed new rate structure, it would cost $5 to park for 30 minutes, and $10 to park for three hours. The same amount of time under current rates would cost $2.50 and $7.50 respectively.

Rates will also likely go up at three other airport facilities. The increases are expected to generate an additional $1.5 million in revenue.

Airport officials say they're also hoping to free up some space in the two busiest parking facilities by encouraging those picking up arriving passengers to use the cellphone lots instead of terminal parking.