No more removing your shoes at the airport? TSA changing security
You may not need to remove your shoes for screening the next time you fly.
The Transportation Security Administration is reportedly allowing the general public to keep shoes on for screenings at select U.S airports, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News, CBS News and NBC News, among other outlets, though in a statement to Paste BN on Monday, the agency said no official changes had been made to its policy.
“TSA and (the Department of Homeland Security) are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture. Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels," the statement said.
Most people have had to take their shoes off for airport screening for nearly two decades, after a passenger tried to ignite explosives in his shoes during a 2001 flight.
Travelers over age 75, children appearing to be younger than 13 years old, and passengers enrolled in trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear can already keep their shoes on. Just last year, TSA released a video promoting that TSA PreCheck perk.
Now, several outlets are reporting that everyone will be able to keep their shoes on for screening at some airports, CBS News specifically named:
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Fort Lauderdale International Airport
- Philadelphia International Airport
- Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina
- Portland International Airport
TSA procedures may vary at different airports.
"One thing that is a pretty frequent moniker here, ‘when you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport.’ They’re all so very different,” Carter Langston, press secretary for Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at the TSA, previously told Paste BN. “When you talk about airport security screening at the checkpoint, TSA really does have a risk-based, intelligence-driven, multiple layers of security, both seen and unseen.”
Contributing: Zach Wichter
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.