DOT and TSA open new Kona Airport security lane to improve peak hour service

HONOLULU - The state Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced the implementation of a new passenger security screening lane which will begin operating in September 2009 at Kona International Airport’s North Terminal.

Located to the right of the two existing North Terminal security lanes, the new lane will provide improved service to passengers between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and also Saturday evenings—the busiest times of day.

TSA estimates the total daily traffic through the North Terminal lanes at over 2,200 passengers, with more than 900 of these passengers checking in at midday and 1,100 checking in on Saturday evenings.

“The expanded service will not only improve the general level of security within the North Terminal but also enhance TSA’s ability to efficiently screen a much larger number of passengers,” said DOT Airports Deputy Director, Brian Sekiguchi. “We’ll be able to increase the security screening capacity during these peak hours and this will greatly improve customer service as well as the experience of Hawai‘i’s travelers.”

Planned changes to the North Terminal include connecting the two roofs between the existing TSA Security lane and the existing retail and concessions area, widening the walkway, and installing the new screening equipment (see picture below).

Completion of the construction portion of the project is anticipated to be in late August of 2009, with the new screening lane opened for business by mid-September.

Starting in September, the two existing security checkpoint screening lanes (left) will get additional support from a third lane that will extend up the walkway to the right.