Terrorist-Proof. (New Business).

Although most local economic news coming on the heels of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. has been negative, a few businesses on the border have actually seen upswings in September growth.

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, passenger traffic at Tijuana's International Airport actually increased 25% in September, when compared to the same month of the year before. The temporary closing of U.S. airports explains part of the increase in demand: international flights to California rerouted to Tijuana in the days after the attacks.

Since then, the increase can be attributed to travelers with destinations in Mexico and Central America who are choosing layovers in Tijuana to avoid long waits and cancelled flights in California's congested airports. Also, airport officials claim, many undocumented immigrants who had been working in California since Sept. 11 have returned to Mexico, citing the economic slowdown and fears over a crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The article also mentions that although the tight security on the border has reduced the number of U.S. tourists crossing over into Mexico, it has helped business at Mexican stores located in the area.

Whereas before, middle- and upper-class Mexicans would cross the border to shop at U.S. outlets, long waits on the border have convinced many to do their shopping at home.

Cross-border traffic at El Paso, Texas has fallen to 28,000 a day compared to almost 50,000 before the attacks. Large supermarket chains such as Organizacion Soriana and the Reynosa, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo locations of HEB Stores Inc. are expected to register third-quarter profits. HEB has reported a 5-10% increase in sales at its northern Mexico outlets.