Skip to main content

Security lines may finally get shorter thanks to initiative by TSA and American Airlines

project fi travel trolley sjc get there early
artistan/123RF
After staff shortages, unbelievable wait times, and missed flights galore, the Transportation Security Administration is finally admitting that indeed, it has a problem. And now, in a joint initiative with American Airlines, the TSA is planning to install a series of new screening technologies like automated security screening lanes and computed tomography (CT) scanners at various airports across the country. This, both the airline and the TSA hope, will improve what has become a truly insufferable travel experience — at least, on the security front.

By incorporating technology and screening station modifications meant to “enhance security effectiveness while decreasing the time travelers spend in security screening by approximately 30 percent,” TSA and American Airlines hope that these new automatic stations will reduce the current headache that is making it through checkpoints in airports.

New features include automated belts that pull bags into X-ray machines and automatically return the bins after screening; bins that are 25 percent larger than those in regular screening lanes; and cameras that take photos of the outside of the bag, which are in turn linked to X-ray images of the bag’s contents. Currently, the joint venture is set to roll out later this fall in Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Miami.

CT technology will also be implemented at a Phoenix TSA screening checkpoint.

“Our foremost priority is the security of the traveling public,” said TSA Administrator Peter V. Neffenger. “To ensure that we remain up to date in an evolving threat environment, TSA continues to test and deploy state-of-the-art technologies. This collaboration with American Airlines is an important step in enhancing the traveler experience while maintaining effective security.”

American Airlines COO Robert Isom echoed these sentiments, noting, “These state-of-the-art lanes, along with new detection technology that will be tested in Phoenix, will enhance security effectiveness and efficiency, while improving the customer experience.  On behalf of our team members who are working to take care of customers every day, we appreciate the TSA’s partnership in implementing these new innovative technologies.”

Here’s hoping the partnership provides travelers with some relief.

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Don’t buy the Meta Quest Pro for gaming. It’s a metaverse headset first
Meta Quest Pro enables 3D modeling in mixed reality.

Last week’s Meta Connect started off promising on the gaming front. Viewers got release dates for Iron Man VR, an upcoming Quest game that was previously a PS VR exclusive, as well as Among Us VR. Meta, which owns Facebook, also announced that it was acquiring three major VR game studios -- Armature Studio, Camouflaj Team, and Twisted Pixel -- although we don’t know what they’re working on just yet.

Unfortunately, that’s where the Meta Connect's gaming section mostly ended. Besides tiny glimpses and a look into fitness, video games were not the show's focus. Instead, CEO Mark Zuckerberg wanted to focus on what seemed to be his company’s real vision of VR's future, which involves a lot of legs and a lot of work with the Quest Pro, a mixed reality headset that'll cost a whopping $1,500.

Read more
Meet the game-changing pitching robot that can perfectly mimic any human throw
baseball hitter swings and misses

Who’s your favorite baseball pitcher? Shane McClanahan? Sandy Alcantara? Justin Verlander? Whoever you said, two of the top sports-tech companies in the U.S. -- Rapsodo and Trajekt Sports -- have teamed up to build a robot version of them, and the results are reportedly uncannily accurate.

Okay, so we’re not talking about walking-talking-pitching standalone robots, as great a sci-fi-tinged MLB ad as that would be. However, Rapsodo and Trajekt have combined their considerable powers to throw a slew of different technologies at the problem of building a machine that's able to accurately simulate the pitching style of whichever player you want to practice batting against -- and they may just have pulled it off, too.

Read more
The best portable power stations
EcoFlow DELTA 2 on table at campsite for quick charging.

Affordable and efficient portable power is a necessity these days, keeping our electronic devices operational while on the go. But there are literally dozens of options to choose from, making it abundantly difficult to decide which mobile charging solution is best for you. We've sorted through countless portable power options and came up with six of the best portable power stations to keep your smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other gadgets functioning while living off the grid.
The best overall: Jackery Explorer 1000

Jackery has been a mainstay in the portable power market for several years, and today, the company continues to set the standard. With three AC outlets, two USB-A, and two USB-C plugs, you'll have plenty of options for keeping your gadgets charged.

Read more