United Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced plans to modernise the security checkpoints at several of the airline’s largest hubs.
United, in collaboration with the TSA, will introduce three major improvements:
- install automated security lanes
- add permanent TSA Precheck® enrollment centers at convenient locations
- redesign security checkpoints at several hub airports.
Automated Screening Lanes
The new lanes enable up to five passengers to fill their individual bins simultaneously and move through the screening process quicker, even if TSA agents need to perform additional screening on a passenger further up the queue. The lanes also use a parallel conveyor system that automatically returns empty bins to the front of the queue.
United will debut the automated lanes at Newark this autumn. When finished, the entire centralised security checkpoint at Terminal C will feature 17 automated lanes. The airline plans to install additional automated lanes at its hubs in Chicago and Los Angeles later this year.
Redesigned and Modernised Security Checkpoints
In addition to installing automated security lanes, United is building and redesigning checkpoints at several hubs throughout the airline’s network. Key initiatives include:
- Installing audio and visual enhancements with cutting-edge technology in the security queuing area to provide passengers with more information.
- Consolidating four checkpoints into one new, centralised checkpoint at Newark.
- Redesigning security checkpoints at Chicago O’Hare.
- Constructing a new, state-of-the-art passenger check-in area and a consolidated security screening checkpoint in Terminal 7 at Los Angeles International Airport.
TSA Precheck Enrollment Centers
United and the TSA recently announced the opening of a temporary TSA Precheck enrollment center at Penn Station in New York City and will install a temporary enrollment center in the lobby of the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago in August. These off-airport sites will give passengers the ability to complete the entire TSA Precheck enrollment process without needing to visit an airport location.
Later this summer, United and the TSA also plan to open permanent enrollment centers at the airline’s hub airports in Chicago, Newark, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
United and the TSA currently have permanent TSA Precheck enrollment centers at the airline’s hubs in Denver and Washington-Dulles.
N.B. Image credit: United
