Jamming Airports

From CNN:

"TSA line closure jams checkpoints at world's busiest airport"

Travelers passing through the world's busiest airport spent more time waiting in security lines Friday, as federal officials test a new automated system for screening passengers.  The move comes after Transportation Security Administration warnings about long security lines this summer at the nation's big airports due to high traffic and low staffing.   Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shut down its south TSA security checkpoint on Wednesday for three weeks of screening tests, forcing thousands of domestic travelers to pass through the airport's two remaining checkpoints.  More people move through this airport than any other. It handled more than 100 million travelers last year. The project -- a collaboration between the airport, the TSA and hub carrier Delta Air Lines, aims to install automated security screening equipment in two of the four lanes at the south checkpoint.  The new equipment would be operated by TSA workers, but the bins passengers place their belongings in are automated so screeners don't have to spend time recirculating them.Another part of the automation involves sending suspicious bags to a separate conveyer belt.  The equipment is similar to systems employed at London's Heathrow and Amsterdam's Schiphol, the TSA said. When it re-opens on May 24, officials will be able to make side-by-side comparisons between the automated security lanes against regular lanes.  The results will help the TSA create a pilot program that could be replicated at other airports. In February, Atlanta's airport sent a tersely worded letter to the TSA complaining about "inadequate" staffing and warning about increasing passenger traffic this summer. The letter threatens to abandon TSA in favor of privatized passenger screening, unless something is done. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson said he has called on Congress to approve more money to pay for overtime for TSA officers working at airports across the nation this summer during peak periods.

^ It's clear that the TSA hasn't been effective in both keeping airports/planes/passengers safe for years now and that they are doing more harm than good at this point (ie long waits, missed flights, stealing from passengers, etc.) Something clearly needs to be done and done very quickly to fix this mess. While it may seem like a great idea to just switch to private security firms you  have to remember that we had them in place on 9-11 and they failed. There needs to be a better solution. I have travelled  around the US and the world since 9-11 and have seen the good and the bad of airport security. The best I experienced was in the Netherlands. The worst was in the US. I'm flying this Summer and only hope the TSA and the airports get their act together before then - but I doubt it. People are sick and tired of being treated like cattle and now missing flights for no good reason and they aren't going to take the delays and sub-par TSA for much longer. ^

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/aviation/atlanta-airport-tsa-screening-lines/index.html