Durbin Joins Call for Major Airlines to "Do Their Part" to Reduce Airport Security Lines
Suspending bag fees for the summer should be part of comprehensive plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In a letter to the trade group representing the major U.S. airlines, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for an immediate suspension of checked baggage fees for the summer travel season to help reduce alarmingly high wait times at security checkpoints across major U.S. airports.
“According to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, baggage fees have contributed to increasing the number of carryon-on luggage that must be screened at security checkpoints. Transportation Security Administrator Peter Neffenger recently testified that the ‘increase in checkpoint screening of baggage due to fees charged for checked bags…create a stressed screening environment for at airport checkpoints.’” Durbin wrote.
Durbin noted that he is working with TSA and the Department of Homeland Security to address the many factors contributing to long lines at security check points at U.S. airports across the country and in Chicago, including too few TSA staff, lower than expected participation in TSA Pre-Check, high airline baggage fees, and a misallocation of security assets, like passenger screening canines, to the busiest airports.
“Over the last year, the volume of passengers and personnel passing through security checkpoints has increased seven percent while the number of checked baggage has only increased by three percent suggesting more passengers are using carry-on luggage,” Durbin wrote. “With checkpoint volume expected to rise above 2.3 million travelers by mid-July, it is essential to make it easier for more passengers to check their luggage to help prevent long delays at security checkpoints. The airlines can contribute to this effort by waiving checked baggage fees during the busy summer traveling months to reduce the incentive for passengers to use carry-on luggage and help speed up the security lines.”
Durbin’s call today echoes that of his colleagues, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward Markey (D-MA) who have also called for a temporary suspension of baggage fees. Yesterday, after speaking with the Secretary of Homeland Security, Durbin announced that Chicago airports would be receiving 58 additional security officers and additional canine units.
Text of today’s letter is below.
May 18, 2016
Nicholas E. Calio
President and CEO
Airlines for America
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Mr. Calio:
There are many factors that have contributed to long lines at security check points at U.S. airports across the country and in Chicago, including too few TSA staff, lower than expected participation in TSA Pre-Check, high airline baggage fees, and a misallocation of security assets, like passenger screening canines, to the busiest airports. I am working with TSA and the Department of Homeland Security to address many of these issues.
According to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, baggage fees have contributed to increasing the number of carryon-on luggage that must be screened at security checkpoints. Transportation Security Administrator Peter Neffenger recently testified that the “increase in checkpoint screening of baggage due to fees charged for checked bags…create a stressed screening environment for at airport checkpoints.” As a result, I join several of my colleagues in the Senate in urging your member airlines to immediately suspend checked baggage fees for the summer travel season to help reduce alarmingly high wait times at security checkpoints across major U.S. airports.
Chicago is one of the only U.S. cities supporting two international airports—O’Hare and Midway International Airports—of which one, O’Hare International Airport, is the second busiest airport in the country. More than 90 million passengers traveled through O’Hare and Midway last year and passenger traffic is only expected to continue to rise.
Over the last several weeks, there have been reports of extremely long security lines at O’Hare and Midway International Airports, which have hurt both passengers and airlines. Passengers have reported waiting two to four hours in security lines and in some case missing flights only to have to wait even longer or spend the night in the airport to be rebooked on another flight. These lengthy security lines not only hurt airline passengers, it can cause economic burdens for the airlines themselves to rebook passengers on later flights.
Long lines at check points are the result of many factors, including an increase in carry-on luggage which must be thoroughly checked for prohibited items including guns, explosives, and other weapons. Over the last year, the volume of passengers and personnel passing through security checkpoints has increased seven percent while the number of checked baggage has only increased by three percent suggesting more passengers are using carry-on luggage.
With checkpoint volume expected to rise above 2.3 million travelers by mid-July, it is essential to make it easier for more passengers to check their luggage to help prevent long delays at security checkpoints. The airlines can contribute to this effort by waiving checked baggage fees during the busy summer traveling months to reduce the incentive for passengers to use carry-on luggage and help speed up the security lines.
I hope your members will voluntarily do their part by suspending baggage fees during the busiest months of the travel season to reduce security lines at U.S. airports and help your passengers make their flights on time.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
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