PHOTO: The TSA said this summer travel season is expected to be even busier than the record-setting spring. Courtesy of Flickr/Judy Baxter
By Michael V. Cusenza
New York City-area airport wait times are “outrageously long” because, in part, the hubs are short the necessary number of passenger-screening canines recommended to reduce overall wait times and improve security, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who this week implored the Transportation Safety Administration to immediately deploy canine teams and additional TSA agents to John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports.
“As the dog days of summer roll on in, airport security lines need to roll along, too. But right now passengers are jammed in outrageously long delays. One simple, cheap and very effective way to speed up the long lines is by deploying a surge of highly-trained passenger-screening canines,” Schumer said on Monday. “As New York City airport wait times bog down, so waits the nation. New York City is a national hub and if we can reduce the wait times here, we can make the entire country move a lot faster. A canine screening surge in New York City could really take a bite out of time.”
Schumer added, “Coupled with a surge in actual TSA agents I am requesting here in New York City, highly-trained canine teams offer a unique way for the TSA to accurately and efficiently screen passengers standing in stalled security lines. That’s why the TSA should increase the number of canine teams at New York City airports as soon as possible.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, recently pointed to an increase in security line wait times for air travelers, Schumer noted. In a May 4 letter to TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, Port Authority Aviation Director Thomas Bosco and Chief Security Officer Thomas Belfiore wrote that during the period of March 15 through April 15 of this year, there were 253 occurrences of 20-plus minute waits – compared to 10 instances over the same five weeks in 2015. The letter says that JFK’s daily average of maximum wait times during the same period increased 82 percent to 20.9 minutes in 2016 from 11.5 minutes last year. The letter also states that the absolute maximum in 2016 was 55 minutes vs. 30 minutes in 2015. The agency has said that the issue is similar at LaGuardia and Newark.
The TSA has pointed to several factors that have caused checkpoint lines to take longer to screen passengers than in previous years. They include:
- A significant increase in the number of travelers;
- More people traveling with carry-on bags, in many cases bringing more than the airline industry standard of one carry-on bag and one personal item per traveler;
- And a decrease in the number of budgeted TSA officers during the past several years.
- More robust checkpoint screening after last year’s covert testing pointed out a need for improvement.
Schumer went on to note that Passenger Screening Canine Teams offer “a unique yet efficient way” to screen passengers. Canine teams include a highly trained detection dog and a handler. There are two types of canine teams that the TSA utilizes. Passenger Screening Teams include dogs that are trained to stand at the front of security lines to scrutinize passengers. The agency uses passenger screening canine teams to conduct screening of air travelers entering checkpoints. In addition to serving as an added layer of security, Schumer said, the Passenger Screening teams are able to quickly clear passengers in line and then allow them to proceed through expedite screening. Once screened by a canine, passengers are able to keep their shoes, belt, and outer jackets on as they move though security, similar to pre-check, this can help significantly improve wait times. Second, TSA uses Explosive Detection Teams that include dogs that are trained to screen cargo and checked luggage for explosives and to respond in emergencies.
On Monday, Schumer said that TSA Passenger Screening Dogs can cut screening times by about half. Recommended TSA security line throughput is 150 passengers per hour; and TSA Pre-Check Line throughput is approximately 280 passengers per hour. New York’s senior senator explained that TSA Passenger Screening Dogs can allow for all passengers to go through the Pre-Check line or a similar screening process in which shoes, belts and coats can still be worn when going through X-ray machinery.
According to the TSA, canine teams have the ability to screen tens of thousands of passengers each day. At JFK, there are currently nine Passenger Screening Canine Teams (recommended: 20 teams); LaGuardia has two teams (recommended: four); Newark has seven Passenger Screening Canine Teams (recommended: 11).
On May 4, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a statement acknowledging the wait-time issue and what he has directed the TSA to do about it.
“First, TSA is increasing the staffing of Transportation Security Officers to help expedite the checkpoint process without sacrificing security. This will allow TSOs to provide effective service at airports that are expected to have the highest passenger volume. TSA is also increasing the number of canine teams as an additional measure to help them expedite the screening process.
“Second, TSA has expanded outreach and enrollment efforts for the TSA Pre√®, which allows eligible travelers to go through security more quickly without removing their shoes, laptops, or travel-sized liquids. To that end, I encourage companies to follow Microsoft’s example of reimbursing its employees who enroll in TSA Pre√®. This incentive lends itself to both smart business and efficient security. I also encourage individual travelers to apply for and take advantage of the TSA Pre√® themselves. This will help us enhance security while greatly reducing travel time for everyone.
“Third, TSA is collaborating with airports and airlines to support non-security screening operations, such as returning bins to the front of waiting lines and other non-security related tasks. TSA has formed Optimization Teams and closely partnered with airlines, airport authorities and industry to deliver innovative screening procedures. Administrator Neffenger and I are working with the aviation industry to develop airport-specific actions plans for the nation’s busiest airports.
“In addition to these measures, I have called on Congress to approve a reprogramming, or reallocation, of Fiscal Year 2016 funds to pay for TSO overtime and fulfill critical short-term needs. These funds will allow TSA to expand the work hours of screening officers in peak periods at high volume airports.
“As we look ahead to the surge in summer travel, we will continue to consider a number of other steps to ensure enhanced aviation security while also maximizing efficiency at check points,” Johnson said.
The number of passengers who flew during the spring set records, and the summer season is expected to be even busier with more travelers than ever predicted to pass through TSA checkpoints, the agency said. Checkpoint wait times have increased and the TSA has recommended that travelers arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of their flights to ensure they have enough time to park or return a rental car, wait in the airline check-in line and then get to the security checkpoint.
“Travelers who arrive at checkpoints prepared for air travel can have an impact on lowering wait times at security checkpoints nationwide, just as individuals who come to the TSA checkpoint unprepared for a trip can have a negative impact on the time it takes to complete the screening process,” the agency noted last Thursday in a press release.
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
