"Atlanta's Airport Gets More Screeners"

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

More screeners head to Atlanta airport
The Associated Press


ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta's airport will get 59 more security screeners to help
ease long lines that have crippled one of the world's busiest airports in
recent weeks.

The additional full-time screeners will arrive at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport by summer, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for
border and transportation security. 

The extra help will allow four more security lanes. As travel has picked up
this spring, the lines at the airport's security clearance have, at times,
stretched outside the terminal. 

Hutchinson visited the airport Monday to meet with U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson
and private transportation executives from around the state. 

"They recognize we're understaffed at Hartsfield-Jackson, and we're moving
in the right direction," airport General Manager Ben DeCosta said. 

Hartsfield-Jackson's passenger count this year is expected to top 81 million
people, exceeding its record year in 2000. 

The additional screeners were approved by federal transportation
authorities, who decided to shuffle 45,000 screener jobs nationwide. 

But some other airports in Georgia lost screeners in the shuffle. 

Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon lost four full-time screener
positions and Athens/Ben Epps Airport lost two screener positions.
Savannah's airport screener staffing stayed the same. 

Hartsfield-Jackson started with 1,335 screeners in fall of 2002. That number
dropped to 1,072 last summer because TSA pared its total screener staff. The
number dropped again to 1,023 as the TSA cut its head count last winter to
meet a congressionally mandated cap of 45,000 screeners. 

With the extra 59 positions, Hartsfield-Jackson airport will have 1,082
full-time positions.


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