Travel Agents Ask End to Alert on Athens if Standards Are Met

The American Society of Travel Agents said today that an official U.S. warning against the use of Athens International Airport because of possible terrorism should be rescinded if inspectors find it meets international security standards.

The State Department on June 18, acting on President Reagan’s instructions when the TWA hostage crisis was still unresolved, issued a travel advisory warning Americans against using the airport in the Greek capital because of “the potential danger of terrorist acts.”

The State Department said today that a Federal Aviation Administration team has arrived in Athens to evaluate security at the airport.

The Administration criticized the Greek government at the height of the hostage crisis on the ground that tighter security at Athens airport might have prevented the hijacking.

Joe Hallissey, president of the American Society of Travel Agents, told a news conference that the society supports the advisory and pending legislation directing the Transportation Department to inspect security at foreign airports.

“Those governments that fail or refuse to implement appropriate recommended safeguards should be excluded from commercial airline routes,” Hallissey said.

But, he said, “if inspection reveals that Athens International Airport meets established security standards, the advisory should be rescinded.”