“We’re far better prepared from a staffing level and a resource level,” Larry Nau, TSA’s Colorado federal security director, said Monday while standing on a walkway overlooking the airport’s bustling security checkpoints.
, the agency had , Nau said. This year, TSA has boosted staffing to deal with the 10,000 more passengers than normal who are expected to begin their travel at DIA each day around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
That includes doubling the airport’s K-9 force, which allows for expedited screening.
Lines for have been roughly two minutes long while passengers going through DIA’s general screening lines are waiting about 16 minutes.
That’s despite a snowstorm over the weekend that dealt a blow to air carriers, prompting the cancellation of and leaving . About 70 percent of Frontier’s weekend flights experienced some kind of delay. The airlines’ issues were unrelated to TSA.
Nau said when it comes to security checkpoints, travelers can ensure those lines stay short by arriving two hours before their flight and making sure they aren’t carrying any prohibited items that could slow the process.
“If I could ask the community on the busier days to come to the airport — be in the airport — two hours prior to your departure, that will help us facilitate the movement through the checkpoint ,” he said.
Passengers should also avoid bringing wrapped presents in case they have to be inspected and know before they get to the airport what’s allowed in their carry-on and checked bags, TSA said. Questions can be directed on Twitter to , where passengers can tweet pictures of items they want to bring aboard a plane and get a response within about 20 minutes. Travelers can also check .
https://twitter.com/AskTSA/status/755386738902700032?lang=en
DIA records some of seizures at its security checkpoints. Through the end of November, more than 90 firearms had been discovered by screeners. Knives, stun guns, inert grenades and mace all contribute to the thousands of pounds of prohibited items seized each month at the airport.
“A firearm or any type of obvious threat, the checkpoint basically comes to a halt,” Nau said. “Not only the individual who made a mistake and left the item in the bag (is impacted) — that lane stops screening and everyone else in that lane is actually paying the price.”
Travelers should also keep clutter in their bags to a minimum, as that can slow the screening process.
“Be very conscious on how you are packing your bags before you come to the airport,” said Harold McCurdy, lead TSA officer at DIA.
On an average day, DIA sees about 55,000 pass through TSA screening. The number is expected to climb to 65,000 during this holiday season, capping what . A projected 57 million to 58 million passengers are expected to travel through DIA by the end of 2016.
Friday is expected to be the busiest travel day of the holiday season, airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said.
The airport began providing extra staffing at TSA security checkpoints on Sunday and will continue to help through Jan. 4, Montgomery said. Airlines are also slated to pitch in.
The contract workers, who also and , assist with non-security tasks such as bin management and passenger “divestment,” an industry term for preparing to go through security, freeing up TSA employees to focus on their primary job of passenger screening.
“TSA over the summer. They’ve applied a lot of those lessons in physical changes on the ground,” Montgomery said. “Since those issues last year, we have that we did.”
The airport also will have customer service teams and its canine airport therapy squad in the terminals during the holiday rush, he said.
Are you traveling today? If so, say hi to Bandit and Rosemary. They are in the Jeppesen Terminal until Noon.
— Denver Int'l Airport (@DENAirport)
“We can never guarantee that people won’t have to wait a little longer — we’re expecting large crowds again this year — but thatap why we ask people to prepare for the screening experience, pack appropriately, get here early and generally be airport aware,” Montgomery said.
