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Long lines at Bush Airport aren’t letting up, and now travelers are seeing real changes to how security is being handled. Officials say extra TSA officers were brought in this week to open a few more screening lanes, while ICE agents are helping manage crowds so TSA can stay focused on screening. Even with that help, waits have stretched for hours at times, with lines spilling beyond normal checkpoint areas. A social media post from Bush Airport, shown below, is warning passengers to expect waits up to four hours and says only certain checkpoints are open right now.
That same post spells out what travelers are dealing with, including no TSA PreCheck or CLEAR and changes to where you go through security. Officials say the added staff can only open a limited number of lanes, so relief has been modest at best. Flyers are being told to show up early and keep checking their airline apps because conditions are changing fast. However, airport leaders say the situation remains fluid and delays are expected to continue as long as staffing shortages persist.