Not surprisingly, the conversation about TSA privatization or opt out of federal run passenger and baggage screening usually focuses around four major concerns: customer service, customer complaint, wait time and staffing flexibility.
There continues to be discussion over the technologies, procedures and screening professionals at airports. Here are perceptive observations of an executive from the inside.
The recent controversy of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) increased use of passenger pat downs and full body image scanning has re-ignited the rhetoric around privatization of TSA screeners at U.S. airports. This increased scrutiny comes at a time when many travelers, lawmakers, privacy advocates and the general public re already voicing criticism of the TSA’s reliance on screening methods that many characterize as overly aggressive and a violation of privacy.
The Transportation Security Administration said it is sending three screeners for remedial training after a passenger carried three box cutters onto a JetBlue plane at New York's Kennedy airport.
This year will mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and for many high-risk areas, security remains a work in progress. A perfect example is all the hype that various airports are generating for using—or more to the point, how they are using—body scanning equipment.
TSA chief John Pistole said he has decided not to expand a program that allows airports to replace government screeners with private screeners, saying he does not see any advantage to it.