Airport security lines are getting longer. By summer, wait times could reach new highs, writes Jad Mouawad in the New York Times.
The increase in wait times is due to an increase in passengers, new procedures for checkpoint security, a shortage of TSA screeners, and less funding. New screeners are being trained, but will probably not be ready to help by the summer.
American Airlines said that in a one-week period in March, nearly 6,800 of its passengers missed their flights because of security line delays.
Recent security lapses have occurred as well. A Department of Homeland Security audit showed that agents had failed to spot weapons in 95% of undercover tests. Changes were made after these findings and now T.S.A. agents have found record numbers of weapons.
