Easterwood Airport has acquired new equipment that ends more than 90 percent of opening checked in baggage for explosives.
TSA security director Mike Scott says the baggage goes through what he compares to a cat-scan…a machine located in major airports away from public view but at Easterwood is by the airline counter.
Scott says the previous 14 years, TSA employees had to open between 3,500 and 4,000 checked bags a month to check for explosives. With the new equipment, Scott predicts less than 10 percent of checked bags will have to be opened.
Airport manager Josh Abramson says this will also speed up the process of large groups using charters.
In the next 60 days, will be the start of a $4 million dollar makeover of the terminal. John Clanton of Astin Aviation, which manages the airport for the Texas A&M system, says it’s the first major improvements since the terminal opened nearly 30 years ago.
Additionally, a $7 million dollar project at the airport’s corporate and general aviation area will start in the next 45 days.
Clanton also announced United Airlines has changed their departure and arrival times to give more flexibility to connecting flights in and out of Houston.
