Hawaiian Airlines says longer security waits this weekend
STAR-ADVERTISER / OCT. 2009
In this file photo, a Hawaiian Airlines plane sits on the tarmac.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Travelers wait in security checkpoint lines at Honolulu International Airport today. Hawaiian Airlines says passengers should expect longer wait times than usual over the busy Memorial Day weekend because the Transportation Security Administration will have two less canine units than usual.
Hawaiian Airlines says travelers should expect even longer wait times than usual at Honolulu International Airport over the busy holiday weekend.
Despite Memorial Day being one of the busiest weekends of the year for traveling, the Transportation Security Administration at Honolulu International Airport will have two less canine units than usual, said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.
Tim Sakahara, a spokesman for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, said the TSA says it will allow overtime for employees if needed and open additional checkpoints during peak hours.
The TSA did not immediately return phone calls in request for comment.
Dunkerley said they’re not expecting more travelers than usual for the busy weekend. Instead, the TSA has reallocated resources from the Honolulu airport to others on the mainland, which could add to the wait times in Hawaii, he said.
“Shuffling resources from one place where there aren’t enough resources to another place where there aren’t enough resources really doesn’t solve the underlying problem,” said Dunkerley, adding that he wants the federal government to give more funding to TSA.
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The airline isn’t expecting more travelers than usual for the holiday weekend, but says travelers should arrive at least two hours before their flight and check security guidelines for packing carry-on bags, Dunkerley said. He said passengers can cut down the time to go through security checkpoints by enrolling in the TSA PreCheck expedited screening program, which allows travelers to keep their shoes on and computers in the bags.
TSA data shows passengers had to wait as long as 30 minutes to pass through Honolulu security lines on Wednesday.
10 responses to “Hawaiian Airlines says longer security waits this weekend”
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The wife dropped her son off at the airport yesterday about 12:30pm. He had a 3:15 flight to Las Vegas. The line was out the door and down the sidewalk for security. He texted he cleared it (finally) by 2:15.
Good luck folks.
Better to take a vacation on the Island of Oahu.
can the airport management coordinate signs that point flyers to other tsa entry points that are not as crowded. like through at united counters instead of the ewa counters?
We spend more time in lines on both ends than we spend on the flight to the Mainland.
That’s not true, of course. You sure do like making up things that can be immediately and easily debunked!
You haven’t seen the lines especially on the Mainland plus I can’t take off my shoes due to a disability so I am subject to a thorough body pat down, bomb testing, etc. and my bags never come out.
BTW, I never make up things. I’m sarcastic a lot because that’s part of my sense of humor.
What are they strip searching everybody?
Perverts.
Yet another inept federal agency. Akin to the Veterans Administration, Office of Personnel Management, Post Office, and others. Can our congressional delegation and/or governor do anything to assist? How about calling the National Guard to assist TSA during peaks?