TSA proposes measures to cut US airport gridlock

Washington

WITH anger boiling over as passengers wait an hour or more at airport checkpoints, Jeh Johnson, the Homeland Security secretary, said last Friday that he had authorised steps to ease the lines, including more overtime for screeners, faster hiring and increased use of bomb-sniffing dogs.

Mr Johnson, standing next to Peter Neffenger, head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said at a news briefing at Reagan National Airport that although the moves would reduce waiting times, they would not eliminate them.

"Our task is to keep passengers moving, but also, and most importantly, keep passengers safe," Mr Johnson said.

The long lines in recent months have led airlines to delay hundreds of flights and passengers to miss many more. Airlines and airport…