Airport Security Details Ahead of the Holiday Weekend

Airport Security Details Ahead of the Holiday Weekend

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jul 01, 2016

An estimated 41 million people will be traveling over the Independence Day holiday, the most in nearly eight years. Ahead of the busy weekend, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to provide insight into the departments air travel and security operations.

Months after increasing passenger screening measures collided with an increase in Transportation Safety Administration personnel, DHS has been scrambling to decrease the amount of time passenger spend waiting in security checkpoint lines. On top of shaving time off passengers’ wait, they have also been cracking down on measures to prevent possible terrorist attacks.

DHS has since approved the hire of more than 1,300 TSA officers and covert 2,700 part-time offers to full-time. Johnson says this has helped with passenger flow through the nation’s busiest airports.

However, airport security will sooner be tested as DHS prepares for one of the biggest travel holidays of the year.

Johnson said that DHS has increased the number of canine teams operating at the nation’s busiest airports to handle security, while the major airlines have collaborated to provide personnel for non-security based TSA duties.

He also added that the TSA PreCheck program is currently tallying 15,000 enrollments a day to provide passengers with another option for shorter wait times.

“Our efforts are showing results. Nationwide, the wait time for more than 99 percent of the traveling public is 30 minutes or less, and more than 90 percent of the traveling public is waiting 15 minutes or less,” Johnson said. “But we are not taking a victory lap. Now that summer is here, we will not let up on aviation security or addressing the increased levels of air travel.”

The hearing comes just after a terrorist attack at a Turkish airport that killed 44 people and injured over 200 more. Johnson recognized the event and said that in addition to TSA screening initiatives, DHS is continuing to deploy Customs and Border Protection agents to foreign airports to pre-clear travelers booked for flights to the U.S.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.