The skies above New Year's Eve revelers in New York, Las Vegas and some other US cities will be off-limits to certain aircraft and patrolled by warplanes as part of increased vigilance for terror attacks, the Department of Homeland Security said today.
Nine days after raising the nation's terror alert to its second highest level due to heightened fear of attack, the government said temporary flight restrictions, or TFRs, would be in place over Las Vegas, New York City, Washington and downtown Chicago.
"We granted requests for TFRs ... over (some) areas for New Year's Eve," department spokeswoman Ms Rachael Sunbarger said.
The temporary flight restrictions, which apply to chartered flights and smaller leisure aircraft, but not to commercial flights, pertain to Las Vegas and New York City specifically during the New Year's holiday.
New York City's Times Square and the Strip in Las Vegas are two of the more popular sites for New Year's Eve celebrations, as hundreds of thousands of people cram into the area to ring in the New Year.
Homeland Security Secretary Mr Tom Ridge has said the government would beef up security around large gatherings which are viewed as potential terror targets.
Flights over downtown Chicago have been restricted under a "code orange TFR" since December 24th, and there have been restrictions over Washington's airspace in place since the September 11th, 2001, attacks.
Flight restrictions will also be implemented for most holiday football bowl games, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on New Year's Day and the giant parade that precedes it, Ms Sunbarger said.
New York city officials, who expect about 750,000 people to gather around Times Square on New Year's Eve, said this would be one of the most heavily guarded celebrations ever.