Homeland Security Secretary and TSA Administrator Jeh Johnson announced a 10-point plan that aims to address the long lines at security checkpoints.
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In some cases, fliers have had to wait in queues for up to three hours, causing airlines to hold flights at gates.
American Airlines has dedicated $21 million toward providing such contract staff; $4 million more than the normal annual amount, according to an internal letter obtained by ABC News.
Last December, Congress did pass a re-programming of TSA to authorize a hiring of 768 more officers who will become available to work in June.
Neffenger blames the long lines on a shortage of officers, saying some 4,644 TSA officers were lost due to budget cuts in 2014.
Help is on the way to help shorten those long lines at Chicago’s airports, but some Chicago aldermen want to get rid of TSA workers altogether and privatize passenger screening.
Reports of long lines at numerous nation’s airports seem to have inspired more people to consider the program. “The resources we have secured are an important step in providing needed relief for the traveling public, as well as ensuring the safety and security of our passengers”. Well, for one thing, more people are flying.
This summer, airlines are expecting record numbers of travellers. Durbin said. Dubrin sais airlines could help the situation by waiving baggage fees for the busy summer travel season.
People are being urged to enrol in TSA’s PreCheck. Waiting times at the checkpoints today have been reported to be as long 2 hours. The program costs $85 for five years, for travelers who pass a background check with biographical information and fingerprints. Other programmes like Global Entry lets travellers cross worldwide borders for $100 (£69) for five years.
At some airports, passengers are being entertained in line, like at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport where “therapy ponies” can be spotted.
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A recent apology from the Transportation Security Administration may fall on deaf ears this summer as airline passengers face growing security lines – and frustration – at airports. “The fact is, with both NY looking at this, Atlanta looking at it, and now Chicago, it’s a wakeup call to TSA that this was a human error of tremendous magnitude, and it’s unacceptable, and the sad part about it, it was avoidable”. “If you don’t know the peak airline times of when the planes are coming in, how can you possibly staff and have a model that makes any sense?”
