commentary

Gridlock Inside the Airport

Aviation Daily

June 22, 2007

By Kevin Mitchell

The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported that security lines at Hartsfield-Jackson International were overflowing on Friday, June 15, by 6 a.m. In addition, the publication reported that "on Wednesday [of the same week], wait times to clear security stretched to close to two hours, causing some travelers to miss flights. At its peak Wednesday morning, the line stretched well outside the terminal onto the sidewalks."

It is true that this was a very heavy travel week and that TSA staffing levels have not been optimal at Hartsfield, according to experts. But it is also the case that after nearly six years of dramatically increased airport security protocols, we still have these kinds of problems throughout the aviation system. This situation represents "Exhibit A" in the case for a national Registered Traveler program. To its credit, officials at the Atlanta airport, the busiest in the world, are taking steps to evaluate the efficacy of RT as a solution.

Some believe this is not an airline problem because their premium passengers often have a designated line to speed the way through security, and rarely are flights delayed due to backups at security checkpoints. BTC, however, believes it is first and foremost an airline problem. As former Southwest CEO Herb Kelleher often noted, it's the last six passengers that can make the difference of profit or loss for a given flight. The troubling fact of the matter is that short-haul traffic never rebounded from the falloff after 9/11.

The bad news is that the aggravation and unpredictability of the security process continue to suppress demand from the business traveler segment throughout the country. Delta and the other carriers simply cannot afford to lose even a couple of high-yield business travelers who are now willing to drive five or more hours rather than risk the unpredictability of the airport security experience. What's more, and of strategic importance to the airlines, this continued erosion of demand is impacting negatively at the industry level, where there is an oversupply of seats and pricing softness is catching the industry by surprise.

The even worse news is that projected airline passenger growth and TSA staffing levels over the coming years suggest more gridlock in the airports. Traffic is expected to grow at 3.5%-4% per year going forward, and Congress is unlikely to approve any time soon more funds for increased TSA screener staffing levels. The airlines have a revenue problem that is about to worsen.

The good news is that major airports, such as in Atlanta, Washington and San Francisco, are pursuing the RT program as a structural solution to a structural problem. The hard and fast, proven fact from recent TSA pilot programs is that RT yields substantially increased capacity at security checkpoints without requiring more airport "real estate." RT will allow considerably more productivity from current TSA staffing levels.

Importantly, RT is still in its infancy stage. It will require more airports joining in, as well as more competitors allowed into the market, to encourage quality and innovation in technical equipment and efficiency processes. But even at this early stage, RT has proven to be a solution in the right direction relative to screening ratios and efficient utilization of available real estate and labor resources.

For their part, airlines should encourage and nurture the further development of programs such as RT, and encourage competition among RT service providers. They need to engage and partner with airports and RT service providers with the single, shared and urgent goal of winning back those high-yield business travelers who have eliminated trips or opted for trains or cars. Sustained airline profitability depends on it.

Founded in 1994, the mission of the Business Travel Coalition is to lower the long-term cost structure of business travel. BTC is a strategic adviser to the FLO Alliance, a Registered Traveler program service provider.

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