Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials announced a unique milestone: 96 percent of July’s main security checkpoint wait times at ATL were below twenty minutes.  That figure represents the highest percentage of sub twenty-minute wait times in the seven years ATL operations personnel have been monitoring such data.  It also represents consistent improvement in previous months’ security wait times as 73 percent of June’s wait times were below twenty minutes and 63 percent of May’s wait times reached the sub twenty-minute level.  Additionally, the 96 percent figure is a substantial improvement over last year’s numbers: July 2015 saw sub twenty-minute wait times only 67 percent of the time.  

“The reduction in wait times speaks volumes about the effort put forward by our staff at ATL,” interim general manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. said today. “In addition, we continue to work with our airline partners and our colleagues at TSA to provide a safe, efficient travel experience.”

“This is a true reflection of the strength of partnership and collaboration with the airport and airlines,” said Mary Leftridge Byrd, TSA Federal Security Director for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “The success over the summer travel period certainly includes the hard work of every staff member and facet of the TSA Atlanta workforce and support provided by our headquarters. It’s been all hands on deck.”

ATL leaders cite a number of different factors that have contributed to the decline in wait times.  Delta Air Lines financed the construction and implementation of two new innovation lanes at the South Security Checkpoint which have improved screening efficiency by 30 percent. In addition, Transportation Security Administration officials have added canine teams, reworked staffing schedules, and increased staffing levels.  Communication between ATL and TSA remains strong.  Officials speak with their colleagues daily, while front line employees of both the airport and the agency communicate throughout the day.