‘Automated Security Lines’ Coming To Newark, Chicago, L.A. Airports

NEWARK, NJ — Don’t expect to see cyborgs conducting airport screenings just yet. But the new “automated security lanes” at Newark Airport will hopefully help you board your flight sooner, airport officials say.

On Wednesday, United Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced plans to "modernize the airport security experience" at several of the airline's largest hubs by introducing automated security lanes.

“As part of a joint initiative to improve the overall screening experience for customers, United - in collaboration with the TSA - will install state-of-the-art, automated security lanes, add permanent TSA Precheck enrollment centers at convenient locations and redesign security checkpoints at several of the airline's most-frequented hub airports,” United Airlines stated in a Wednesday news release.

The new lanes will enable up to five customers to fill their individual bins simultaneously and move through the screening process quicker, “even if TSA agents still need to perform additional screening on a customer further up the queue,” the airline stated.

The lanes will also utilize a parallel conveyor system that automatically returns empty bins to the front of the queue, United representatives added.

United plans to debut the “automated” lanes this autumn at Newark Liberty International Airport, where it controls a majority of the takeoff and landing slots.

• See related article: Newark Airport Monopoly Allegations: United, Delta Want Lawsuit Dismissed

When complete, the entire centralized security checkpoint at Terminal C in Newark Liberty will feature 17 automated lanes, United representatives stated.

The airline plans to install additional automated lanes at its hubs in Chicago and Los Angeles later this year.

Federal and local legislators have recently blasted growing wait times at the busy New Jersey airport and pressured airport officials and airlines to do something to speed up the process.

In May, New Jersey lawmakers announced that TSA deployed 25 agents to Newark and would be hiring 95 new agents by June.

“The outrageously long wait times we have witnessed in Newark not only slow down travel, but they also slow down economic growth for New Jersey and the region,” U.S. Senator Cory Booker (NJ) said in May.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (NJ) agreed with his junior counterpart.

“While tight airport security procedures are clearly necessary, we cannot accept travelers enduring unreasonable and excruciating, two-hour-long lines just to get through check points. We have demanded assurances from TSA that it will provide sufficient resources and increased staffing to reduce these long waits, especially here at Newark-Liberty… It’s my hope that we can stop the insanity and make air travel safe, secure and easier for everyone.”

Redesigned, Modernized Security Checkpoints

In addition to installing automated security lanes, United plans to build and redesign checkpoints at several hubs throughout the airline's network that will “dramatically improve the customer experience.”

According to United Airlines, planned initiatives include:

• Installing audio and visual enhancements utilizing cutting-edge technology in the security queuing area to provide customers with more information.
• Consolidating four checkpoints into one new, centralized checkpoint at Newark Liberty.
• Redesigning security checkpoints at Chicago O'Hare.
• Constructing a new, state-of-the-art customer check-in area and a consolidated security screening checkpoint in Terminal 7 at Los Angeles International Airport.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Security line at Newark Airport, 2008, by brownpau, Flickr Commons

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