Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest in passenger volume, has launched a study to see whether it wants to shift from TSA screening to using a private company under TSA supervision.
It wouldn’t be the first to do so, but it would be the biggest. Others that have taken that option include San Francisco International, Kansas City and Orlando; 17 smaller airports have also chosen that option.
The issue is a hot topic again because of the repeated disruptions to TSA coverage caused by government shutdowns that leave TSA staff without pay for extended periods. Many quit, while others didn’t report for work, often because they needed other, paying jobs. In Atlanta, up to 36% were out at times.
If Atlanta, or any other airports, decides to make a switch, though, it won’t be fast. The process requires permission from TSA, which then selects an approved company. The process would take more than a year. Opposition would also come from the union representing TSA screeners, which says that the ‘lowest-bidder’ contracts compromise safety because they incentivize companies to prioritize profit.
