Airports Warn of Hours-Long TSA Security Lines

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Airports across the U.S. are warning travelers to brace for hours-long security checkpoint lines as the partial government shutdown continues to stretch federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers thin. Security wait times at major airports like Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, and Charlotte have already reached nearly an hour or longer, and officials say the situation is likely to worsen as spring break travel ramps up.

Why it matters

The ongoing government shutdown has severely impacted TSA staffing levels, with many workers calling in sick or quitting due to lack of pay. This is causing major disruptions at airports nationwide, with travelers facing the prospect of spending several hours just to get through security checkpoints. The delays could have ripple effects on the broader travel industry if the situation is not resolved soon.

The details

Airports in major cities like Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, and Charlotte have all reported security checkpoint wait times of nearly an hour or longer on recent days. Airport officials are telling travelers to arrive at the airport even earlier than usual to account for the lengthy delays, which are expected to worsen as spring break travel picks up in the coming weeks.

• On Sunday, security checkpoint wait times stretched to nearly an hour or longer at several major airports.
• Airport officials warn the situation is likely to get worse as spring break travel ramps up in the coming weeks.

What’s next

Airport officials are urging travelers to arrive at the airport even earlier than usual, at least 2-3 hours before their scheduled departure, to account for the lengthy security delays.