TSA Expecting Higher Passenger Volumes at Maine Airports This Summer
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) throughout Maine airports is prepared for a busy summer travel season. TSA anticipates passenger volumes in Maine could match and possibly exceed those of 2019.
Nationwide TSA officers are currently screening approximately 2.1 million people daily, which is an increase from May 2021, when TSA screened about 1.7 million daily.
TSA officers at Portland Jetport (PWM) are currently screening anywhere from 2,400 to 3,200 people a day, however, TSA expects that number to rise as we proceed into summer. Last summer at PWM, the month of August saw daily screening numbers exceed 5,000. At Bangor International (BGR) TSA is currently screening anywhere from 1,000 to 1,300 people a day and expects that number to rise as well. Last summer TSA officers at BGR screened about 600 people a day.
The continued recovery from the low travel volumes during the pandemic may require more patience and planning than was necessary before 2019. Checkpoint environments and procedures have changed. PWM will soon expand their security checkpoint area to five screening lanes. The 5th lane will help meet expected summer travel demand. The new equipment is slated for installation next week.
“Daily passenger volumes at TSA checkpoints throughout Maine are getting busier every week. Our Maine airport security checkpoints have highly-trained security professionals and new technologies that enhance security and reduce physical contact,” said Bob Allison, TSA federal security director for Maine. “To help expedite the screening process, we ask that passengers have their ID out and ready to either present to the TSA officer or to insert into the Credential Authentication Technology machine.”
Recent security enhancements at airport screening checkpoints include two new technologies. TSA deployed Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners to improve identification verification, and in some airports, enable digital identification verification at the Travel Document Checker podium and the scanning capabilities for carry-on bags. Both of these technologies enhance security and reduce physical contact within the checkpoints.
To date, TSA has deployed 1,621 CAT units to 176 airports, including two machines at BGR and three at PWM. TSA has also deployed 387 CT units to 158 airports nationwide, including one at BGR.
The CT units provide TSA officers the ability to review a 3D image of passengers’ bags and reduce the need to search the bag’s contents. Passengers screened in security lanes with CT units do not need to remove their 3-1-1 bag or electronics.
