The Port of Seattle is considering replacing the Transportation Security Administration screening at Sea-Tac Airport with private security contractors.

Everyone who has traveled through Sea-Tac recently knows the struggle – long lines and wait times that keep increasing as passenger counts continue to break records.

(Article by Coral Garnick, republished from www.bizjournals.com)

While no decisions have been made yet about getting rid of the TSA, Port of Seattle spokesman Perry Cooper said the commissioners are exploring many options that could bring down the wait times.

Commissioners will hold a round table on April 26 to discuss all options that could be considered to improve traffic flow. Cooper said some airport workers may visit other airports with private security, such as San Francisco, and then debrief the commissioners, or some officials from the California airport may attend the roundtable.

If the airport decides to replace the TSA with private security, TSA officials will still be on-site to oversee security and make sure it meets TSA standards.

“Whether privatization would help improve wait times is a question that is being looked into,” Cooper said.

Cooper said TSA staffing is really at the root of the problem, which is something the port can’t control. The airport has 32 checkpoints, but TSA staffing only allows for about 18 of those lanes to be open at any given time.

In the letter to TSA Monday, Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray expressed concern that Washington is still months away from the busy summer months, but passengers are already missing flights due to long wait times. The duo asked for training to be allowed locally to get staff into the airport more quickly.

“We are concerned about this problem becoming even worse as we get into the summer months,” they wrote.

In response to a letter, TSA administrator Peter Neffenger agreed to train new security officers locally rather than send them to a training center in Georgia. Neffenger told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday that Sea-Tac is one of the TSA’s priority airports for additional staffing.