US To Boost Airport Security Check Staffing

May 4, 2016

With airlines concerned that delays at airport security checks may discourage summer visitors, the US government said it will add TSA staff and bomb-sniffing dogs and ramp up pre-screening signup efforts.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will add officers at airports expected to have the highest passenger volumes, said Jeh Johnson, secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security.

He added that he has asked Congress to approve additional funds to pay for officers' overtime and to meet "critical short-term needs."

Security officials are on high alert for potential attacks by groups inspired by Islamic State. On March 22, suicide bombers killed 32 people in Brussels Airport and a rush-hour metro train.

"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 maximising efficiency at check points," Johnson said.

Airlines such as American Airlines had voiced concern that staffing levels at US airports were insufficient to handle heightened security and greater passenger traffic that's expected for the peak summer tourism season.

"The US travel community is grateful that the well-documented problems with TSA security lane resourcing have the full attention of the Obama administration and Congress," said Roger Dow, president of the US Travel Association. "It's alarmingly likely that the mere perception of security hassles at US airports will have an effect on travel."

(Reuters)