Huinink elected
to ACI-NA
JFKIAT’s CEO represents JFK
Elaine Chao Resigns
as DOT head
TSA 2020 operational changes in review
Passenger safety key in light of pandemic impact
The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA)
reported the final daily figure
of estimated travel volume
for calendar year 2020,
closing a year that tested the
agency’s ability to innovate
and quickly implement modifications
across more than 440
federalized airports nationwide
to address the pandemic.
Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31,
2020, the agency screened a total
of approximately 324 million
passengers throughout its
airport security checkpoints.
That figure represents just 39
percent of the approximately
824 million total passengers
screened in 2019.
“In 2020, TSA implemented
significant operational
changes across its
entire security checkpoint
environment due to the COVID
19 pandemic. “ Our entire
workforce, including
screening officers, canine
handlers, inspectors and federal
AIRPORT V 18 OICE, JANUARY 2021
air marshals, continues
to do everything possible to
protect our colleagues and
airline passengers, and I am
grateful for their adaptiveness
and resilience.”
TSA is marketing its Pre-
Check program with a new
new slogan, Travel with Ease.
TSA PreCheck® offers
travelers the convenience and
confidence they are looking
for as they think about traveling
again. We are telling people
that TSA PreCheck helps
people “Travel With Ease” by
touting benefits that are even
more valuable in today’s environment:
no need to remove
shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops
or light jackets, along
with faster moving lines with
shorter wait times. TSA Pre-
Check is more beneficial than
ever because it means fewer
touchpoints during a pandemic.
On April 14, 2020, TSA
reported its lowest travel
volume of only 87,500 passengers
throughout all TSA
checkpoints nationwide, representing
just 4 percent of
passenger volume recorded
on the same weekday in 2019.
During TSA’s historically
busiest time of year, average
travel volume per day
between Thanksgiving and
New Year’s Eve in 2020 continued
to fluctuate between a
low of 24 percent and a high
of 61 percent of 2019 travel
volume during the same period.
TSA anticipates daily
travel volumes will continue
to rise and follow seasonal
patterns. but expects volume
will remain well below
pre-pandemic levels through
most of 2021.
Despite the reduced number
of passengers screened
as a result of the pandemic
in 2020, TSA modified security
checkpoint procedures
around the country to reduce
physical contact and help protect
workers and passengers.
In 2020, TSA installed 6,873
acrylic barriers at 384 airports.
The accelerated technology
deployments also resulted
in the installation of 927 CAT
units for 125 locations. CAT allows
passengers to scan their
own ID to complete the identity
verification process and
eliminate the need to hand
the credential to a TSA officer.
TSA also installed more than
311 CT units at 135 airports,
giving TSA officers the ability
to review a 3D image of a passenger’s
bags, thus reducing
the need to search the bag’s
contents.
TSA continues to require
all officers to wear face
masks and gloves while on
duty. Face shields are also
required when there is no
acrylic barrier in place. The
agency will continue to disinfect
frequently touched
surfaces and encourage social
distancing through signage.
When pat downs are
required, TSA officers must
use a fresh pair of gloves.
As part of the ongoing
“Stay Healthy. Stay Secure.”
campaign, a dedicated TSA
COVID-19 page is updated
daily to provide information
on daily travel volume, employee
infections by airport,
travel tips, and general updates
regarding TSA operations.
That page will continue
to be updated on a daily basis
to remain as transparent
as possible with the traveling
public. Throughout 2021,
TSA remains committed to
the mission of protecting all
transportation systems as
well as the continued deployment
of technologies that enhance
security and reduce
physical contact.
CEO JFKIAT Roel Huinink
was recently elected leader to the
Airports Council International-
North America WBP/Associates
Board of Directors. Huinink
joins PANYNJ Aviation Director
Huntley Lawrence who is currently
a Director of the ACI-NA.
“I look forward to sharing my
experiences and learning from
other industry leaders in my role
as a member of the ACI-NA World
Business Partners (WBP)/Associates
Board of Directors, “ he
said.
”Over the past 10 months, COVID
19 has disrupted our business
model and accelerated the
pace of change in people, processes,
place and technology
across all aspects of the aviation
industry. It’s become clear that
this accelerated pace of transformative
change will remain
with us, and as we move forward,
sharing resources, information
and best practices across our industry
will be critical to ensuring
the future of aviation.
“Although we are still faced
with uncertainty, I’m proud to see
that as an industry, we have embraced
this change and have continued
to collaborate and explore
ways to adapt to the new normal
of air travel. AT JFK Terminal 4,
we developed a strategic response
and recovery plan focused on key
areas of the employee and customer
experience, collaborating
with the Port Authority NY
& NJ, our airline partners, our
government stakeholders and
business partners to ensure that
safety and well-being were our
highest priorities. We have also
continued to build and develop a
resilient company culture in the
midst of the pandemic, and it has
proved to be one of the most invaluable
aspects of T4’s perseverance
through this period.”
The Airports Council International
North America (ACI-NA)
is the voice of North American
airports, representing local, regional
and state governing bodies
that own and operate commercial
airports in the United States and
Canada. Our members represent
more than 300 airports operating
in the United States and Canada
and nearly 400 aviation-related
businesses. For more information
goto: https://airportscouncil.
org/about/aci-na-leadership/
Ms. Chao, wife of Senator McConnell, was the first Cabinet member to resign from the embattled
Trump administration following the Capitol attacks.
“Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of
the president stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed,” Ms. Chao said in her
letter of resignation. “As I’m sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way
that I simply cannot set aside.” It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the U.S. Department
of Transportation,” she said.
The aviation world looks to the new administration for support to our travel community seeking
funding for airport and infrastructure projects currently on hold due to the economic and health
crises. Seen here at LGA with GM Tony Vero.
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