Macon Airport May Opt-out of TSA Screening

New security changes could be coming to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport. Macon City councilman Erick Erickson is proposing opting out of using the Transportation Security Administration for screening passengers.

He wants Macon’s airport to join 16 others across the county who use private security firms through the Security Partnership Program. He says the move will attract more travelers to the area because of better customer service.

The federal government will still provide funding if the airport decides to use a private firm, because it would still have follow TSA requirements when checking passengers.

The airport would have to put out bids to firms and then submit those proposals to the government, and that process to switch to private security would take about a year.

Erickson first has to present a draft to Mayor Robert Reichert and City Council to get their approval before moving forward with the idea.

New security changes could be coming to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport. Macon City councilman Erick Erickson is proposing opting out of using the Transportation Security Administration for screening passengers.

He wants Macon’s airport to join 16 others across the county who use private security firms through the Security Partnership Program. He says the move will attract more travelers to the area, because of better customer service.

The federal government will still provide funding if the airport decides to use a private firm, because it would still have follow TSA requirements when checking passengers.

The airport would have to put out bids to firms and then submit those proposals to the government, and that process to switch to private security would take about a year.

Erickson first has to present a draft to Mayor Robert Reichert and City Council to get their approval before moving forward with the idea.