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Baggage check could stretch to an hour
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Posted on Jul 28 2004
The waiting time at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint could stretch to more than an hour starting next month, when the federal agency loses at least eight employees for various reasons, TSA-Saipan director John Peoples said.
In an interview, Peoples told the Saipan Tribune that TSA’s current count of 52 screeners would be down to 44 in the next 30 days, as employees go on maternity, military, or family medical leave; transfer to other U.S. airports; or resign from the agency.
All of this comes in addition to one airport inspector that TSA recently terminated, he said.
Peoples noted that at present, wait time at the baggage check and TSA checkpoint takes about 15 minutes.
“With all the new and extra summer flights coming in, compounded by our manpower shortage, passengers can expect to wait an hour—maybe more,” Peoples said.
He explained that with very few people on board, TSA could only open one of the three screening lanes to ensure that security standards are maintained.
“The checkpoint and the baggage screening area are critical positions that have to be staffed properly. We will dilute our security effort if we spread our staff too thin,” Peoples said.
At least eight people are needed to run the checkpoint, and about 10 more to conduct baggage inspection, which Peoples described as “labor intensive.” Thus, assuming that no one calls in sick, the 44 screeners that TSA will be left with by August are just about enough to work two shifts everyday.
The airport is open 21 hours daily.
However, Peoples added that his office has made efforts to get temporary assistance from the TSA headquarters in Washington, D.C., while the Saipan office is hiring new screeners.
He also expressed hope that less personnel would be needed in the baggage screening when the Commonwealth Ports Authority completes the enclosure and air-conditioning of Saipan International Airport.
Peoples said TSA will set up more sophisticated machines when the airport enclosure project gets done. Only 40 percent of the project design, however, has been completed.
