24 SECURITY July | August 2026 AirportImprovement.com PGD | SFO known as a technical monitor audits the program daily to make sure they’re following Standard Operating Procedures for screening,” Laroche says. “Our contractor holds its screeners to a higher standard than federal TSA screeners, and because of that, we end up with a better screening product.” Monthly performance calls between TSA and private screening companies add another level of accountability. “If a contractor does not perform at a level equal to or better than the TSA, they lose their contract,” Laroche says. “So, the contractor has a personal stake in providing the highest level of screening possible. They are also rated on their wait times, so if they go above a set wait time, they could lose their contract.” Both PGD and SFO cite significant advantages to using private screeners. Checkpoint wait times at PGD dropped from up to 45 minutes to under 10 minutes on average after it made the change. “Our peak times are 6 to 8 a.m., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.,” Laroche says. “We don’t see delays during these peak times.” The numbers at SFO tell a compelling story for large hub operators. “We process over 2 million passengers in 30 days, with an average peak wait time of under 10 minutes,” reports Doug Yakel, the airport’s public information officer. Workforce Benefits A significant difference between the SPP and traditional federal model lies in workforce management. Private contractors face far fewer bureaucratic constraints when hiring and onboarding employees, and also subsequently when addressing performance issues. “We are able to hire much quicker than the government is,” Hyde says. “We can hire somebody within four to six weeks, whereas the TSA average is about 275 days.” The impact was quickly apparent at PGD, as the private contractor initially hired screeners and underperformers were weeded out either through attrition or termination. “You end up with an all-star team,” Hyde remarks. “After that, there is very little turnover.” Training timelines also improve under the program. Previously, SPP contractors had to send their screeners to Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers for training. Today, online TSA training and on-the-job training get employees up to speed more quickly. “The TSA takes six months or more to get screeners certified. We can get them certified in almost half that time,” Hyde reports. At SFO, low turnover is an important advantage. “We have a pretty stable workforce,” Cheong says. “Covenant prides itself on having employees with 20+ years of tenure. This creates consistency in a high-volume, high-pressure environment.” She links excellence in training with improved retention. “Screeners understand what the job is before they are thrown into it,” she explains. “It is a very demanding job, so there is a benefit to being well trained.” Contractors also have flexibility in how they manage screening employees. “They have their own incentives and employee recognition,” Cheong says. “Covenant offers incentives to keep its staff from calling out for the Super Bowl or over the holidays. They also do a lot to recognize their employees for a job well done.” At PGD, Aviation Security Management gives employees a pin when they detect banned items during Red Team testing. “Awarding screeners gives them a sense of pride,” says Laroche. “Others see the pins and know that they were rewarded for doing their job well.” Customer Experience Factors At both airports, customer service is a defining advantage of SPP participation. Pioneers of Privatized Screening The 20 airports that currently participate in the TSA Screening Partnership Program represent a variety of markets and operational volumes: • Atlantic City Int’l Airport (Atlantic City, NJ) • Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa, CA) • Dawson Community Airport (Glendive, MT) • Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester Int’l Airport (Rochester, NY) • Great Falls Int’l Airport (Great Falls, MT) • Glacier Park Int’l Airport (Kalispell, MT) • Havre City-County Airport (Havre, MT) • Kansas City Int’l Airport (Kansas City, MO) • L.M. Clayton Airport (Wolf Point, MT) • Orlando Sanford Int’l Airport (Sanford, FL) • Portsmouth Int’l Airport (Portsmouth, NH) • Punta Gorda Airport (Punta Gorda, FL) • Roswell Air Center (Roswell, NM) • San Francisco Int’l Airport (San Francisco, CA) • Sarasota Bradenton Int’l Airport (Sarasota, FL) • Sidney-Richland Regional Airport (Sidney, MT) • Sioux Falls Regional Airport (Sioux Falls, SD) • Tupelo Regional Airport (Tupelo, MS) • Wokal Field – Glasgow/Valley County Airport (Glasgow, MT) • Yellowstone Airport (West Yellowstone, MT) Source: TSA.gov Checkpoint wait times at Punta Gorda Airport dropped after it joined the TSA Screening Partnership Program.
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