As of October 1, all electronics larger than a cell phone will have to go through x-ray screening at airports in the United States, including the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
“Over the past 12 to 18 months, the federal government's picked up a lot of intelligence that terrorist groups are now capable of putting explosives in smaller electronic devices," airport spokesman, Kent Boyd said. "That's the heart of the concern, so they want to make sure that every electronic device is screened."
According to Boyd, the Transportation Security Administration anticipates longer wait times for the first few weeks while everyone gets familiar with the new routine, and that could cause problems for some travelers.
“We have a lot of people in this town that like to show up at the airport as late as possible," Boyd said. "While I certainly understand that, because it's typically very easy to get through security and through the whole process quickly, it's not always. And, so, with this new procedure in place, it might take longer."
He advises travelers to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before departure. Take all electronic devices out of your bags, he said, and put them in the bins at the security checkpoint.
The new security measure doesn't apply to passengers enrolled in TSA's PreCheck program.
