Sioux Falls Air Travelers Skip Long Lines Thanks To Private Screening

If you're contemplating some air travel anytime soon, you'll want to pack a little extra patience in your carry-on.

The ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security has created major headaches for airports nationwide, particularly for the Transportation Security Administration. The biggest issue? TSA agents have now gone a record 44 days without a paycheck!

Roughly 61,000 TSA employees have been working without pay since February 14, and understandably, that’s starting to take a toll on them and their families. Many agents simply can’t afford to keep showing up to work indefinitely without income. As a result, absentee rates have climbed, which is leading to long lines, delayed flights, and frustrated travelers at major airports across the country.

Get our free mobile app

But what about right here in Sioux Falls?

Thankfully, travelers flying out of Sioux Falls Regional Airport are largely avoiding the chaos. That’s because Sioux Falls is one of only about 20 airports nationwide that use a private company for passenger security screening instead of TSA employees.

The Sioux Falls Airport participates in what’s known as the Screening Partnership Program, which allows private contractors, trained to the exact same standards as TSA agents, to handle security checkpoints.

According to Dakota News Now, Sioux Falls Regional Airport Executive Director Dan Letellier told SiouxFalls.Business that the local screening program is fully funded for the year, meaning the screeners working here are still receiving their paychecks despite the federal shutdown.

That’s good news for travelers flying the friendly skies who are passing through the Sioux Empire. While passengers at larger hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, and New York are dealing with massive security lines, Sioux Falls flyers are still moving through security at a relatively normal pace.

Interestingly, Sioux Falls isn’t alone. As Dakota News Now reports, major airports such as San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport also use private screening programs.

READ MORE:  What's Really Flying Over the South Dakota Skies These Days?

Meanwhile, the shutdown continues to strain the TSA workforce nationwide. Reports indicate that more than 450 agents have already resigned, and as of Sunday, March 29, nearly 12% of TSA employees across the country did not report to work.

So if you’re flying out of Sioux Falls anytime soon, consider yourself somewhat lucky. While much of the country is stuck in security line limbo, passengers here in the Sioux Empire are still getting through checkpoints without having to pack their patience pants and a Snickers bar.