Securing Our Airports


Every day, airports and their employees work to ensure the security of the traveling public. Working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the airlines, airports help to maintain a multi-layered security routine to protect travelers from terrorist and criminal activities. 

 

Changes to Security Post 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress created the TSA.

Security is the responsibility of TSA, airports, and airlines.

The TSA is responsible for:

  • Screening passengers and bags
Airports are responsible for: 

 

  • Providing law enforcement support
  • Restricting access to airline aircraft by unauthorized individuals
Airlines are responsible for:
  • Security of their own aircraft
  • In many cases at the larger airports, airlines may be responsible for security of their own terminals, work areas, and other facilities such as cargo and maintenance hangers
FAA remains responsible for its own facilities, although there is coordination with TSA.


Background Checks for Airport Employees

  • Criminal history record checks are required for all employees.
  • No individual is allowed unescorted access to restricted areas without the background check.
  • TSA rules also require airport employees to undergo an additional background investigation, known as a security threat assessment.


Airport Security Areas

  • U.S. commercial airports are divided into different restricted areas with varying levels of security. Individual airport operators determine the boundries for each of these areas on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the physical layout of the airport.

  • Sterile areas in terminal buildings are areas beyond the TSA passenger screening checkpoints, where passengers board and de-board aircraft.  Generally, only ticketed passengers and airport employees with authorization can enter this area. 

  • Public areas are any location outside the retricted areas of the airport where a person may go freely, such as the baggage claim and ticket counter locations.


General Aviation Airports

  • Small airports without scheduled commercial service do not have the same regulatory requirements as commercial airports.
  • Most small airports implement TSA-endorsed best-practice guidelines for airport and aircraft security.

 

 

Compiled by Charles R. Chambers Jr. (cchambers@aci-na.org)

ACI-NA’s Senior Vice President, Security and Facilitation

and

Lydia Kellogg (lkellogg@aci-na.org)

ACI-NA’s Senior Manager, Public Safety and Security


Need more information?

For more detailed airport security information on this website. 

For more detailed airport safety information on this website. 

 

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