After a two-day transition process, the new consolidated TSA security checkpoint at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is running smoothly, spokeswoman Rosylin Weston said. “Airports and airlines have been sounding the alarm for months”. “However, with that said, we still encourage passengers to arrive at the airport 90 minutes in advance of their flight to allow time to park their cars, check their bags, get their boarding passes and then get into the checkpoint line”. “It’s more pleasurable to be waiting at your gate than running behind in the security line”.
Advertisement
Neffenger said more automation will help relieve bottlenecks at the airport. “We are at a lower staffing level than we need to be”, Neffenger said.
Neffenger said the TSA projects that checkpoints across the country will screen 100 million more people in 2016 than it did in 2013, while the agency’s workforce has been reduced by 12 percent over that same time period. He added that the bureaucracy at the TSA “has gotten weaker”. He said an additional 768 workers would be ready for service by June 15.
McCaul pressed Neffenger about the abrupt ouster of the agency’s top security official. Hoggan was removed Monday and replaced by a former federal security director in Los Angeles and New York, Darby LaJoye.
The TSA faces the challenge-what members of Congress described on Wednesday as an “impossible task”-of moving travelers through security checkpoints quickly and preventing long lines that have plagued airports in recent weeks, while also maintaining high security standards, especially in light of the global threat of terrorism”.
Despite those problems, there are signs of improvement, Neffenger said.
Agonizingly slow, long security lines will likely continue to get slower and longer at major airports as the summer travel season ramps up, but local airport and security officials aren’t anxious about that problem in Hampton Roads.
Some travelers fear the long wait times and are concerned it may get worse heading into summer.
American and United airlines say they are spending $4 million each to bring in contract employees who can take over nonscreening chores such as handling bins and managing lines, freeing up TSA agents to focus on screening.
Advertisement
Besides reducing fees, airlines should enforce rules limiting carry-ons to one bag plus one small personal item, Neffenger said.
