Passengers may not notice Sunday’s transition
Feb. 17 — Responsibility for airport security moved from the airlines to the newly created Transportation Security Administration on Sunday, a change officials hope will be so smooth that passengers hardly notice. The switch was ordered by Congress after the September terrorist attacks. The Transportation Security Administration will have coordinators oversee protection of passengers at some 430 commercial airports across the country.
THE TRANSITION will be gradual; airlines have until Nov. 19 to complete it. “Many of the changes are management changes, behind-the-scenes changes,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Friday. He said the changes will result in baggage screeners and security screeners at the airports “who are better paid, better trained and, therefore, more stable in terms of the turnover, and that will enhance security for all travelers.” John Magaw, newly installed undersecretary for transportation security, said, “In terms of security violations, malfeasance of duty, that will all be our responsibility.” Last month, airlines substantially increased scrutiny of checked baggage for explosives.
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