While frustrated travelers nationwide have been experiencing long wait lines at airport security checkpoints thanks to the partial federal government shutdown, Lehigh Valley International Airport has been operating normally in recent weeks.
“Currently, our [Transportation Security Administration] checkpoint is operating,” LVIA spokesperson Colin Riccobon said. “We have been able to continue processing people [at a] very high level.”
Wait times for the checkpoint at the airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, was about three minutes at midday Thursday and a minute for those with TSA precheck. Travelers have been using the airport, as many are taking spring break and the parking lots are filled, or nearly filled, to capacity, Riccobon said.
Meanwhile, some larger airports have seen wait times stretch for more than an hour, including in Atlanta, New Orleans and Austin, Texas. Philadelphia International Airport has closed three security checkpoints because of staffing shortages.
“The national news is there’s like huge lines and all that, but we’ve been able to continue processing people,” Riccobon said.
TSA workers, along with those from the Federal Aviation Administration and other federal agencies at LVIA have been working without a paycheck since January because the Department of Homeland Security’s budget has not been approved by Congress over a divide on immigration enforcement.
Riccobon said the community has rallied around the federal workers. A Fill the Bus event was held Thursday to provide needed supplies, and the airport provides at least one meal a week.
“It never ceases to amaze me how the community responds,” Riccobon said. “It’s really their time to show support and give back to the TSA agents.”