Just in time for holiday travel, Delta, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Transportation Security Administration are speeding up security lines for faster, hassle-free domestic travel from Atlanta. 

Atlanta’s domestic terminal south security checkpoint is the first in the U.S. that will be converted to computed tomography-automated screening lane (CT-ASL) systems* - making the world’s busiest airport even more efficient as travelers connect to destinations around the world. 

The new lanes allow travelers to keep electronics and approved liquids in their carry-on bags and are being installed throughout the remainder of the year to help people move through Atlanta’s south checkpoint more seamlessly and with fewer touchpoints. 

"Our partnership with TSA and the Atlanta airport allows us to improve the security experience by making it faster and more seamless, which is something we know is important to our customers,” said Eric Phillips, Delta's Senior Vice President — Airport Customer Service. “This enhancement in our largest hub market will help reduce stress, minimize airport touchpoints and improve the overall experience for Atlanta travelers for years to come."   

In recent tests, Delta teams have seen customers move through security nearly 20 percent faster using this technology.  

The new systems also help minimize touchpoints and reduce crowding for safer travel – protocols that have become especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 70 percent of Delta’s customers have cited the TSA checkpoint as one of the most important parts of their journey to remain clean and sanitized. 

TSA otherwise continues to adjust its security operations during the pandemic by implementing proactive and protective measures at security checkpoints to make the screening process safer – plexiglass barriers and distancing markers have been installed at airports across the country, agents are required to wear masks and gloves, high-touch screening equipment and bins are cleaned hourly, and other surfaces are cleaned daily or as needed in airports nationwide. More information can be found at tsa.gov/coronavirus. 

“The safety and security of travelers is the No. 1 priority of TSA, and our partnership with Delta and ATL is critical in helping develop innovative security enhancements to improve the travel experience,” said Eric Beane, TSA’s Interim Federal Security Director.  

In addition to industry-leading CT scanners with improved X-ray technology for enhanced detection, the new lanes feature fully automated bin returns and dual tray loads. That means travelers can push bins onto the belt as soon as they are ready and do not need to stack their bins after passing through security. And customers won’t have to worry about items left behind – the bins are scanned before they're stacked to make sure personal belongings aren’t forgotten. 

Plus, customers at these checkpoints will no longer have to remove electronics or liquids for scanning, further reducing the risk of lost personal items. 

Delta and TSA 

This is not the first time Delta has worked with government agencies to make travel easier. Delta and TSA worked together to introduce the first ASLs followed by the first two CT-ASLs at Atlanta’s international terminal checkpoint last year – the same terminal where Delta, CBP and TSA launched the first fully biometric terminal in the U.S. in 2018. Earlier this year, Delta and TSA launched antimicrobial bins that prevent the growth of a broad spectrum of bacteria for automated screening lanes at five Delta hubs.  

“It is a great honor for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to house the first fully CT-ASL security checkpoint in our south terminal,” said John Selden, General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “As a world-class airport, we are continuously seeking ways to enhance the customer travel experience. We look forward to partnering with Delta and TSA to provide passengers with a more seamless security process.” 

This update builds on Delta’s already robust onboard cleanliness efforts as part of the Delta CareStandard - from blocking middle seats into March 2021 to changing high-grade HEPA air filters twice as often as recommended. Delta continues to lead the industry with innovations that make the travel journey easier and more touchless. The airline recently announced the first domestic digital identity test in the U.S., which will be offered to Delta customers in Detroit who have TSA PreCheck®. As unveiled at CES 2020, Delta is also conducting a walking speed security test with employees as the airline continues to innovate for the future of travel. 

*TSA is required to maintain one legacy lane with a traditional, non-automated system for oversized carry-on items.