The old Indianapolis International Airport terminal is officially closed for business.When a delayed Continental Airlines flight landed from Houston at 8:43 pm. and took off for Newark shortly after 9 p.m., the old terminal said goodbye to its final flight.Meanwhile, flights have continued to roll in at the new terminal, and so far all systems seem to be operating properly. The airport’s baggage claim system has operated as it should and free shuttles have continued to take passengers to vehicles they parked at the old terminal.So far, so good.With about a half dozen flights in so far tonight, the new airport terminal’s baggage claim seems to be functioning properly. There were no visible problems, and free shuttles taking passengers to their vehicles parked near the old terminal also appeared to be working properly.By 1:30 a.m., the new terminal is expected to handle 49 flights with its first departure scheduled around 5 a.m.The first flight to arrive at Indianapolis’ new $1.1 billion airport terminal landed at 7:50 p.m.Airport employees applauded as the first passengers towed their luggage into the terminal’s large Civic Plaza.United Flight 7622 out of Chicago was the first flight in, operated by a local crew including Pilot Jason Short from Noblesville.“It was a regular night,” Short said. “But an extra nice welcome home.”Airport awaits 1st flight about 8 p.m.All is quiet at the new Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport — for now. At 7 p.m., there was little activity in the terminal’s large, circular plaza. A handful of employees continued to stock bars and fast-food restaurants, which will not open until tomorrow morning. However, several hundred passengers are expected to file through the new $1.1 billion facility later tonight. The first arrival at the new terminal is expected around 8 p.m., although airport officials do not know for certain which flight will be the first to pull up to one of the terminal’s new gates. Flights will continue to land here until about 1 a.m., with the first departure from the new terminal scheduled for around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.In probably the last time so many sharpened objects will be permitted in the airport, hundreds of blue collar workers from the airport, the airlines and vendors clutched scissors and helped snip a 1,000-foot-long red ribbon this afternoon.In a gesture that illustrated the airport authority’s desire to broaden the grand opening of the new H. Weir Cook Terminal beyond its leaders and political dignitaries, the authority invited baggage handlers, ticket-takers and security force personnel to bring their own scissors and join in the ribbon cutting.Kristy Sandlin, a supervisor for Air Tran Airlines, got her souvenir patch of red ribbon, a historic relic of an historic event in Indianapolis.“We wish it could have been done outside,” Sandlin said, referring to a rainy day decision to move the grand opening indoors. “But it was nice for the employees to get the chance to be involved today.”As the festivities winded down, it was back to work for many workers, especially those employed by the fast-food restaurants and gift shops that surround Civic Plaza. Some were doing test-runs on food and service, but nothing was open.A bar was staffed with friendly bartenders, but all they were serving was water, soft drinks and smiles — the official opening is not until Wednesday morning.Teresa Mitchell of Greenwood works as a bartender for Areas, one of the vendors that owns the bar and a few of the restaurants.“This is a beautiful place. It really has all been kind of like make-believe, watching it come to life,” said Mitchell, who bar tended for eight years at the old terminal for a different company. “I really like doing this. You meet so many nice people.”A friendly atmosphere is more than just a nice way to impress a visior, it’s key to success of the new airport, even for the airport’s security force.Melvin Carraway, the former head of the Indiana State Police who now is general manager of field operations for the federal Transportation Security Administration, returned to Indianapolis and made that very point.Carraway said Indianapolis is the first airport in the country that has been able to fully implement a security plan based on lessons learned in the past 30 years — including the 2001 terrorist attacks, which changed the way airport security works.Acknowledging the new technology and layout, Carraway said a calm, relaxed security force will also be a top priority, setting at ease the public who are eternally in a hurry and security officials who are paid to observe everyone, even though “99.9 percent of the people are normal.”“It will be a team approach and a much calmer experience,” Carraway said. “And you have some of the most cutting edge technology here. Indianapolis is leading the way, setting the pace.”Another federal official — Thomas Barrett, the deputy secretary of transportation — was also on hand. He called the new terminal a stunning building.“Indianapolis has just lapped the competition when it comes to the flying experience,” said Barrett. “You should be very proud of that.”And it’s not a bad place to work, according to Sadlin, who spent the previous for years working for Air Tran at the old terminal, which closes tonight.“The new terminal is convenient, updated and as employees, we love it. We love the food choices … and the shopping.”Airport officials basked in the glow of a brand spanking new terminal today, dropping references to its architectural beauty, risky beginnings and its connection to the military heroes — especially Col. H Weir Cook, whose descendants were present today.Amid a backdrop of wide, sweeping views of a rain-drenched airfield — which will welcome its first arrivals tonight — hundreds gathered at the point of welcome in Civic Square to cut a giant red ribbon and officially open the terminal.“This is our place,” said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, “to welcome home our troops, to hug or family members at the holidays and hopefully to bring back another Super Bowl trophy.”Ballard — one of three Indianapolis mayors to serve in office during the planning and construction — was joined on stage by former Mayor Stephen Goldsmith. Former Mayor Bart Peterson was not present.Goldsmith, who now teaches at Harvard University, portrayed the city’s support as a risky venture at the time.“The decision to move forward with this terminal was a complicated one,” Goldsmith said. “It was a bold step for the city at the time.“The airlines were against this at the time because of the cost. But obviously in retrospect, it was a wonderful decision.”Robert Cortelyou, a senior vice president for Delta, the airport’s largest airline, agreed, saying Delta was proud to be the carrier of one-third of all the passengers who use Indianapolis International Airport.“With our merger with Northwest, we look forward to 60 daily flights to 17 destinations using 12 gates here,” said Cortelyou, who was also speaking on behalf of all the airlines that serve Indy.Randall Tobias, president of the airport authority board, pointed out that the new airport will also serve as an important piece of the economic puzzle in Central Indiana.“Today, we dedicate a new landmark that will further enhance the image and respect of Indianapolis as one of America’s great, forward-thinking cities,” said Tobias.And not to forget, he added, the airport is quite eye-catching, making a good first impression to travelers whose first stop is the new terminal building.“As an architectural masterpiece, this is perhaps the best contemporary design among airports anyplace in the world.”Shortly after 2 p.m. today, hundreds of pairs of scissors sliced through a thousand-foot long red ribbon to mark the opening of the new Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport.“As of now, this is an airport … a real airport,” said Randall Tobias, the president of the airport authority board.Hundreds of airport, airline and other employees joined political dignitaries in the ceremonial snip. The thick, red ribbon was wrapped around the circular Civic Plaza — the heart of the airport.Tobias spoke before a crowd of several hundred onlookers, many of them in military uniform as the historic grand opening was tied to Veterans Day.A surprise plan to place an exclamation point on the ceremony by landing a plane with returning soldiers fell through because of technical difficulties. And the weather did not play along, either. Rain forced the ceremonies inside the terminal building and a planned flyover of F16s from the Indiana National Guard was cancelled.But it was still a jovial atmosphere at the new $1.1 billion terminal, which has been planned for the past 33 years.In addition to Tobias, the main stage included Mayor Greg Ballard and former Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, who made the decision to proceed with the new airport terminal in spite of protest from the airlines at the time.After years of planning and construction, airport officials finally get to cut the ribbon today to mark the opening of the new Indianapolis International Airport terminal, a $1.1 billion gateway to the city.A host of dignitaries are expected this afternoon and will be joined by airport workers, who came with their own scissors, to help mark the historic moment.AIRPORT GUIDE: Maps, videos, photos stories will get you on your way.On this patriotic day, bands will play, flags will behoisted and prayers offered by the airport’s interfaith chaplaincy.The Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal is replacing the old terminal building, which closes tonight when the final flights depart by about 8 p.m.The first official passengers to use the new terminal will arrive this evening on flights that will land here but not take off again. It will be a test of the new terminal operation and its new baggage system.The first departing flight is scheduled for early Wednesday morning, the first full day of activity at the new terminal.