American Airlines and TSA launch two automated screening lanes at Chicago O’Hare
15 November 2016 - 1:00AM
As the holiday travel period quickly approaches, American Airlines,
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Chicago
Department of Aviation have collaborated to launch two automated
security screening lanes in Terminal 3 at Chicago O’Hare.
These new automated screening lanes, funded by American,
incorporate technology and screening station modifications that
enhance security effectiveness while decreasing the time travelers
spend in security screening by approximately 30 percent.
The advanced equipment in the automated lanes, which were the
first to launch at O’Hare last week, offers a number of unique
features designed to improve the screening of travelers by
automating many of the functions currently conducted manually,
allowing passengers to move more swiftly through the checkpoint.
These innovations include:
- Automated belts that draw bags into the X-ray machines,
returning the bins back to queue after completion of the
screening.
- Bags with a potential threat can be directed to a separate area
to allow bins behind it to continue through the system
uninterrupted.
- Property bins that are 25 percent larger than the bins in
regular screening lanes.
- Unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that are
attached to each bin to allow for additional accountability of
items as they transit throughout the system.
- Cameras that capture photos of the outside of the bag, which is
linked to the X-ray image of the bag’s contents.
“We are proud to be working collaboratively with the TSA and the
Chicago Department of Aviation to be the first airline to debut
next generation screening technology at O’Hare,” said Franco
Tedeschi, American Airlines vice president — Chicago. “These
state-of-the-art lanes enhance security effectiveness and
efficiency and will improve the customer experience for our
passengers in time for the busy holiday season.”
“Earlier this year, wait times at TSA checkpoints escalated to
an unacceptable 104 minutes,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“Working together with our federal and airline partners, we
resolved this crisis and today have average wait times that are
among the shortest of major airports in the country. I want to
commend TSA for their commitment to improving service and
thank American Airlines for continuing that progress by making
innovation lanes a priority at O'Hare.”
“We are very appreciative of the ongoing collaboration between
TSA and our partners at American Airlines,” said TSA Administrator
Peter Neffenger. “Working together in our efforts to deploy
effective, state-of-the-art technologies such as these automated
lanes in O’Hare’s Terminal 3 furthers TSA’s ability to fulfill its
security mission while also enhancing the travel experience.”
American and TSA anticipate deployment of additional automated
screening lanes in early 2017 at Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles,
Miami and New York (JFK).
Early next year, American and TSA will also commence a pilot of
computed tomography (CT) scanners. CT technology, currently only
used at U.S. airports to screen checked bags, is expected to
significantly improve the throughput when added to the screening
process in Phoenix. 3D CT technology could make it possible to
allow passengers to leave liquids, gels and aerosols, as well as
laptops, in their carry-on bags at all times. This results in a
quicker throughput and less bin use. If the pilot testing is
successful, TSA may deploy CT technology to other checkpoints
nationwide.
TSA Public Affairs
571-227-2829
tsamedia@tsa.dhs.gov
American Airlines Corporate Communications
817-967-1577
mediarelations@aa.com
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