As the peak summer travel season approaches, Charlotte Aviation Director Brent Cagle is worried about long security lines. He says spring break was a horrible experience for many passengers.
"We had customers who reported waiting in line for up to 3 hours,” Cagle says. “We also had security check point lines that snaked literally from the second floor ticketing level down into baggage they were so long."
He blames the TSA, the agency responsible for passenger security, although the TSA disputes Cagle’s number. An agency spokeswoman says the longest wait time was 75 minutes. Cagle says between 600 and 650 people missed their flights because of the security backup. In fact, airports around the country have reported similar problems. About 450 people spent Sunday night at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after missing their flights because of long security lines.
WFAE Morning Edition host Marshall Terry interviewed Cagle in his office at Charlotte-Douglas. Cagle says poor management by the TSA is part of the problem.