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

  • 2025 Gun Violence Statistics Show Signs of Progress

    Omnilert, a national leader in AI-powered safety and emergency communications, has released its 2025 Gun Violence Statistics, along with a new interactive infographic examining national and school-related gun violence trends. In 2025, the U.S. recorded 38,762 gun-violence deaths, highlighting the continued importance of prevention, early detection, and coordinated response. Read Now

  • Big Brand Tire & Service Rolls Out Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard

    Interface Systems, a managed service provider delivering remote video monitoring, commercial security systems, business intelligence, and network services for multi-location enterprises, today announced that Big Brand Tire & Service, one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent tire and automotive service providers, has eliminated costly overnight break-ins and significantly reduced trespassing and vandalism at a high-risk location. The company achieved these results by deploying Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard, an AI-powered perimeter security solution designed to deter incidents before they occur. Read Now

  • The Evolution of ID Card Printing: Customer Challenges and Solutions

    The landscape of ID card printing is evolving to meet changing customer needs, transitioning from slow, manual processes to smart, on-demand printing solutions that address increasingly complex enrollment workflows. Read Now

  • TSA Awards Rohde & Schwarz Contract for Advanced Airport Screening Ahead of Soccer World Cup 2026

    Rohde & Schwarz, a provider of AI-based millimeter wave screening technology, announced today it has won a multi-million dollar award from TSA to supply its QPS201 AIT security scanners to passenger security screening checkpoints at selected Soccer World Cup 2026 host city airports. Read Now

  • Brivo, Eagle Eye Networks Merge

    Dean Drako, Chairman of Brivo, the leading global provider of cloud-native access control and smart space technologies, and Founder of Eagle Eye Networks, the global leader in cloud AI video surveillance, today announced the two companies will merge, creating the world’s largest AI cloud-native physical security company. The merged company will operate under the Brivo name and deliver a truly unified cloud-native security platform. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.