Travisma 1,317 Posted February 7, 2018 Report Share Posted February 7, 2018 Orlando airport could be nation's largest to opt out of using TSA Only a day after it was announced that Orlando International Airport is now the busiest airport in the state of Florida, surpassing Miami International Airport, OIA is reportedly considering the option of privatizing the safety screening process at its security checkpoints. According to News 6, OIA has begun to detail a proposal that would seek to replace the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, with a private company. The move is in response to the need to further secure checkpoints throughout the airport that, as of recently, have begun to get bogged down with an increase in passenger traffic. Last month, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority announced it was considering the option. (TSA was established as a response to the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.) In 2017, OIA managed more than 44.6 million passengers traveling either to or through Orlando, making it the 13th largest airport in the U.S. Overall growth through last year was 6.41 percent, which represented an uptick of nearly 2.7 million passengers over 2016’s final standings. In a news release from OIA, much of that growth is attributed to an increase of over 3 million passenger seats added to the market. “As the busiest airport in passenger traffic in the state of Florida in 2017 serving Orlando, the most visited destination in the country, we are working hard to meet the growing demands and provide the experience travelers expect,” says Phil Brown, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, in a news release. “Another year of record passenger traffic highlights the need for our current $3.5 billion capital improvement program. Current projections are that this level of growth will continue in 2018.” OIA is also currently expanding ticket lobbies, which is expected to boost the airport’s capacity to around 45 million passengers as early as this summer, due to estimates on annual passenger rates that could reportedly hit as many as 46 million – and that, with just two checkpoints to work with, is what leaves OIA in a bind. To date, an airport the size of OIA has never opted to replace federal screening officials with a private workforce. A few years ago, in 2015, Sanford’s airport opted for private security. However, with just 3 million passengers every year, Sanford’s airport passenger rates represent just a fraction of what OIA has to work with. In 2017, OIA was ranked No. 1 out of 18 mega airports, according to a J.D. Power study of traveler satisfaction, and received four out of five stars, which meant it was “better than most” by the survey's standards. In addition, in 2015, a survey by Valencia College showed that 90 percent of passengers at OIA were satisfied or very satisfied with the airport’s screening process. That same survey was reportedly conducted at the request of TSA. As part of OIA’s capital improvement project, the airport broke ground on construction for a new South Terminal last month – what will amount to a $2.1 million job. Avatab.... Steve 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 Getting through security in November was a nightmare. It took me about an hour -- and that was through the ADA line. I got through in about 20 minutes, but it took my wheelchair and the person who was accompanying me about 40 minutes. Ridiculous! Any changes to cut down the wait is welcome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cortezcapt (Derek) 156 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 Sounds like a good thing to me, if the private company keeps it security standards as high or higher than TSA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 Has anyone used Sanford airport lately? how was security? the reason I ask is because they use private security. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, h2odivers...Ray said: Has anyone used Sanford airport lately? how was security? the reason I ask is because they use private security. It's been in place going on 3 years, so that may be an indication that it's working? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cortezcapt (Derek) 156 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 I don't know, maybe someone on here does and can explain how TSA works as far as how many security check points or staff an airport gets, do the airports pay for TSA agents ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 1 minute ago, Cortezcapt (Derek) said: I don't know, maybe someone on here does and can explain how TSA works as far as how many security check points or staff an airport gets, do the airports pay for TSA agents ? I do know someone on this forum has a son who is a pilot. Perhaps he knows or could find out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
djsamuel 322 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 Here I thought this was going to be a post about Claude Giroux. Tri-Circle-D 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 35 minutes ago, Cortezcapt (Derek) said: I don't know, maybe someone on here does and can explain how TSA works as far as how many security check points or staff an airport gets, do the airports pay for TSA agents ? Doesn't look like it, unless they supplement what the airlines pay. I found this information Private contractors could be more cost effective than TSA. If the nations top 35 airports switched to private it could save taxpayers $1 billion over 5 years. Airports that want to leave have to prove that the private contractors will be more cost effective than TSA and meet or exceed federal screening guidelines. TSA will not train the private screeners, but will pay for them. So who knows, does the airport pay TSA to pay the contractors? Then I found this Security Fees TSA has implemented congressionally mandated security fees to help finance the increased cost of securing the nation's aviation transportation system. The revenue generated from these security fees is utilized to help ensure the safe and efficient flow of people and commerce. For additional information about security fees, please email your inquiry or call (571) 227-2323. Passenger Fee The Passenger Fee, also known as the September 11 Security Fee, is collected by air carriers from passengers at the time air transportation is purchased. Air carriers then remit the fees to TSA. The fee is currently $5.60 per one-way trip in air transportation that originates at an airport in the U.S., except that the fee imposed per round trip shall not exceed $11.20 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted February 8, 2018 Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 The In efficient government at work again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2018 41 minutes ago, h2odivers...Ray said: The In efficient government at work again If you kept politicians and there money grubbing paws out of the mix, a lot of government agencies could run more efficiently and actually show a profit. Avatab.... Steve and Tri-Circle-D 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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