TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) – Tampa International Airport will transition to private security screeners under the TSA Gold Plus program next May, making it one of the first major airports in the country to adopt the expanded program.
Under the TSA Gold Plus program, a private contractor will handle security screening at checkpoints while remaining under TSA oversight. The change means passengers will still go through the same screening policies and procedures currently in place.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has used private screeners since 2014. More than 5,000 travelers a day make the drive from Manatee and Sarasota counties to Tampa International.
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Josh Talkington, SRQ’s director of communications, said the private screening model can help reduce staffing disruptions, particularly during a government shutdown.
“We have had private security screeners here at SRQ for about a dozen years since 2014,” Talkington said. “ASM is our private contractor company doing all the screenings at our checkpoints.”
Talkington said the contractor operates under TSA standards.
“They are overseen by the checkpoints, they are trained by the TSA, they follow the same policies, the same procedures — everything that the TSA would do, our private contractor are doing it right here,” Talkington said.
Traveler John Wood said he has not noticed a difference in the screening experience at SRQ.
“It goes very smoothly here,” Wood said. “Every time I come here it’s smooth, the lines work really well going in to get my flight, and coming out it’s easy too.”
Tampa International’s transition to the TSA Gold Plus program is expected in May.
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