Friday, December 3, 2010

What does future hold for airport security?
Body scans and pat-downs are just the beginning

Image: A TSA worker runs her hands over the head of a traveler during a patdown search at Denver International Airport, the day before Thanksgiving
RICK WILKING / Reuters
A TSA worker runs her hands over the head of a traveler during a pat-down search at Denver International Airport, the day before Thanksgiving.

The pre-Thanksgiving standoff between the Transportation Security Administration and some airline passengers over the federal agency’s new screening techniques has left many industry observers wondering: What’s next?

For now, the full-body scanners and enhanced pat-downs are here to stay, according to the TSA. But in the future, air travelers could see additional biometric screening or smarter body scanners — and possibly one day a return to pre-pat-down security protocols.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Travel Association called for the creation of a "trusted traveler" program for airline passengers, which it says would result in more secure, efficient and effective screening. Under this system, passengers would be screened for security risks before arriving at the airport, reducing bottlenecks and diverting security resources to higher-risk passengers...

[Full Article]