Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, USA, has announced that 96% of passengers waited less than 20 minutes at the main security checkpoint in July 2016.
It is the lowest figure recorded in the seven years since monitoring such data. It also represents a consistent improvement in security wait times as 73% of June’s wait times were below 20 minutes and 63% of May’s wait times also reached the sub 20-minute level. Additionally, the 96% figure is a substantial improvement over last year’s numbers, which only reached 67% for July.
Roosevelt Council Jr, interim general manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, said, “The reduction in wait times speaks volumes about the effort put forward by our staff at Atlanta Airport. In addition, we continue to work with our airline partners and our colleagues at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to provide a safe, efficient travel experience.”
Mary Leftridge Byrd, TSA federal security director for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, said, “This is a true reflection of the strength of partnership and collaboration with the airport and airlines. The success over the summer travel period certainly includes the hard work of every staff member and facet of the TSA Atlanta workforce and support provided by our headquarters. It’s been all hands on deck.”
Atlanta Airport has cited a number of different factors that have contributed to the decline in wait times including Delta Air Lines financing the construction and implementation of two new innovation lanes at the south security checkpoint, which have improved screening efficiency by 30%. In addition, TSA officials have added canine teams, reworked staffing schedules, and increased staffing levels.
