This is going to be so interesting to watch as the airlines try to accomplish on-time operations. Before...as in right now...aren't only about 5% of checked bags being scutinized? They want the airlines to jump to 100%? Walter DCA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leo Futia" <LFutia@aol.com> To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > The top Republican on the Senate aviation subcommittee, Sen. Kay Bailey > Hutchison of Texas, warned that lengthy lines at airport security checkpoints > are almost certain to get longer next weekend when airlines are required by > law to inspect all checked baggage for explosives. > > The Senator said yesterday on CNN: "This is going to cause a backup at many > airports... People are going to have even longer waits than we are used to > now." > > The new aviation security law, passed in response to the September 11 > terrorist attacks, requires airlines to have systems in place to inspect all > checked bags for explosives by Friday. > > This could include sending the bags through explosive detection machines, > having them inspected by hand or bomb-sniffing dogs, or making sure that no > bag is loaded on a plane unless the passenger also boards. > > "We are trying to screen, in some way, every bag that goes on an airplane," > Hutchison said. "The major vulnerability we have today is checked baggage." > > Federal Aviation Administration spokesman William Shumann said the agency > plans to enforce the law. He said FAA special agents at airports will check > to see if the bags are being inspected for explosives. > > "The mandate is to screen all checked bags," Shumann said. "That's what we > will expect the airlines to do." > > The Transportation Department is expected to announce this week how airlines > will meet the deadline. > > "That deadline indicated to the Department of Transportation that Congress > wanted this done really quickly," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on CNN. > "People want security in their travel. That's the only thing that will bring > travel up again." >