United States — Travellers speeding via U.S. airports can now maintain their sneakers on throughout safety screenings, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem introduced on Tuesday.
The long-standing requirement — in place since 2006 after the notorious “shoe bomber” incident — is formally over, efficient instantly nationwide.
Noem stated a pilot programme proved that the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has the know-how to maintain airports safe with out requiring passengers to take away their sneakers.
“I feel most People shall be very excited to see they’ll be capable of maintain their sneakers on, and will probably be a way more streamlined course of,” Noem stated.
Nevertheless, she famous that some travellers should still be requested to take away their sneakers if brokers deem further screening mandatory.
Till now, solely TSA PreCheck members — who pay about US$80 for 5 years of expedited service — might skip the shoe-removal step.
Noem additionally shared that TSA is reviewing different procedures to make the method sooner and fewer hectic. Future pilots might embrace separate lanes for navy personnel and households with younger youngsters.
The change comes greater than 20 years after Richard Reid tried to bomb a flight from Paris to Miami in 2001, sparking the safety rule that pissed off tens of millions of passengers for years.
