American Airlines automated screening lane

After a nationwide crisis of extra-long security lines due to undermanned security checkpoints,  American Airlines and United Airlines have opened innovative automated screening lanes at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to expedite airport security processes. The update comes just in time for Thanksgiving weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

On Nov. 14, American Airlines announced the launch of two automated screening lanes inside Terminal 3 at Chicago O’Hare. American funded the new checkpoints and has partnered with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to operate them. The airline estimates that these lanes reduce traveler screening time by 30 percent.

These lanes use automated belts to move luggage into X-ray machines and return empty bins after screening is complete. Bags that have been flagged can easily be directed to a separate area without holding up the line. The bins used in these screening lanes incorporate RFID technology to better track items as they move through the screening system. Cameras also take photos of the exterior of each bag, and the computer links these with the corresponding X-ray images.

On the same day, United Airlines announced the opening of its own automated screening lanes at the redesigned TSA Precheck security checkpoint in Terminal 1 at Chicago O’Hare. United’s three new security lanes allow up to five travelers to fill bins at a time, helping the line move faster. Similar to American’s automated conveyer system, United uses a parallel conveyer system that returns empty bins to the front of the queue.

“Earlier this year, wait times at TSA checkpoints escalated to an unacceptable 104 minutes,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Working together with our federal and airline partners, we resolved this crisis and today have average wait times that are among the shortest of major airports in the country.”

Both United and American are implementing similarly innovative screening lanes in other major airports across the United States. United is currently working on building and redesigning checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and others. In early 2017, American plans to debut new automated checkpoints at several hubs, including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

American is also partnering with the TSA to test the viability of using computed tomography (CT) scanners in airport security checkpoints at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. 3D CT technology could significantly reduce screening time by allowing passengers to leave liquids, gels, aerosols and laptops in their carry-on bags.

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