Airport security

TSA might remove security checkpoints from regional airports

IF YOU FLY out of a small regional airport in the not-too-distant future, you might notice a routine part of the flying experience has gone missing. According to a reportfrom CNN, internal TSA documents show that the agency has considered removing security screenings from 150 US airports serving planes with 60 or fewer seats. The documents were originally compiled in 2011 and have resurfaced as of late, with CNN’s coverage bringing the issue to the public’s attention.

According to the reports, smaller aircrafts don’t provide as “attractive” of a “payoff” for terrorist attacks. The agency also predicts it would save a good deal of money — around $115 million per year — by removing checkpoints from the smallest federally-regulated airports. But don’t expect to breeze right onto the plane immediately — not everyone is on board with the plan. Under the condition of anonymity, two senior TSA officials expressed serious national security concerns about the proposal to reporters at CNN, but admitted that the concept is gaining steam at the agency.