As one of the busiest airports in the New York metro area, Newark Airport tends to see long lines and slow-moving passengers. Recently, it’s been working to speed up the check-in and security processes and just announced (according to nj.com) that it will be adding faster, more efficient security lanes:
“The Transportation Security Administration in partnership with United Airlines plans to roll out faster “state-of-the-art” security screening lanes at Newark Liberty International Airport this fall.
Newark airport will have 17 new “automatic” screening lanes to process passengers 30 percent quicker, officials said. The lanes feature powered conveyor belts that can fit bins up to 25 percent larger.
Five travelers can load luggage onto the scanning equipment at the same time, and each bin will be tracked using radio-frequency sensors.
“Our responsibility remains keeping passengers safe but also moving through security,” said TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport will be equipped with the new technology sometime later this year.
The TSA has already installed the new security lines in Atlanta in a partnership with Delta.
The TSA has struggled to reduce security wait times in Newark and other New York City area airports over the last few months. The issue came to a head in May when the the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey threatened to replace the agency with private security.
The announcement Wednesday appears to be part of the agency’s plan to preparefor the Federal Aviation Administration’s reclassification of Newark airport on Oct. 31. The change will remove the current cap of 81 flights per hour at the airport.
The FAA says the move will open the airport to competition between more airlines. Multiple low-cost carriers have already announced new routes out of Newark since the news broke in April of the upcoming changes.
United Airlines says the reclassification will cost the company $412 million.”
