U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) on Friday met with federal and local partners to discuss security operations and procedures at the Philadelphia International Airport.
During his trip, Carper toured the airport’s checkpoint areas that screen approximately 31 million passengers per year.
In addition to his tour, Carper held a roundtable discussion with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and airport, airline and local law enforcement officials regarding security procedures and efforts to ensure that passengers reach their final destinations safely and in a timely manner.
“Making sure our nation’s airports, especially one as busy as Philadelphia International, are both secure and efficient is no easy task, which is why no one group can do it alone,” Carper said. “Aviation security is a shared responsibility, and I’m encouraged to see the cooperation between federal agencies, law enforcement officials and the airlines here in Philadelphia to ensure that passengers can get where they’re going safely and efficiently. With all eyes on this city for one of the biggest events of the summer, I am confident Philadelphia will be ready for the surge in visitors with these stakeholders working together.”
Carper noted the innovative ways that the TSA is working with partners at airports across the country to increase efficiency without compromising security. Carper also mentioned efforts at Hartsfield-Jackson Memorial Airport in Atlanta and its new innovation lanes that will improve passenger flow by 30 percent.