USA TODAY International Edition
United speeds security lines
United Airlines has become the latest big U. S. carrier to say it’s teaming up with the Transportation Security Administration to speed up the screening process.
United says its collaboration with TSA will bring automated security screening lanes to several of its busiest hub airports, starting with Newark Liberty by the fall. Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles also will get the checkpoints.
The new lanes work for carryon bags like cafeteria conveyor belts that carry dirty dishes. Up to five travelers at a time can place belongings in bins to be screened, so faster travelers aren’t slowed by people with more belongings as they move to metal- detectors or full- body scanners.
The conveyor brings empty bins back to the start of the line, so that staffers don’t need to retrieve them. For better security, the bins are marked with electronic tags linked to each traveler, and each is photographed.
The so- called “automated” lanes reduce screening times by about 30% compared with standard checkpoint setups, TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger told USA TODAY. They’re already in place at a number of overseas airports, but are new to the USA.
The airline’s announcement comes as TSA, airlines and airports have grappled with ways to alleviate long airport security lines that began grabbing headlines earlier this year.