US Airports Phase Out Shoe Removal for Pre-Flight Screening
US airports are no longer requiring passengers to remove their shoes during standard preflight screenings, with select airports dropping the rule.
Shift in US Airport Security Policy
In a significant change to post-9/11 US airport security policy, passengers at major airports in the United States are no longer being asked to remove their shoes during standard preflight screenings, confirmed by CBS News. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) seems to be phasing out the long-standing rule at select locations, with no official announcement made so far.
Selected US Airports Dropping Rule
Select US airports have begun dropping the rule, including Baltimore/Washington International, Fort Lauderdale International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Portland International, Philadelphia International, and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina, as reported by CBS. Reports from CBS News correspondents at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and New York City's LaGuardia Airport suggest that the relaxed protocol is being observed there as well, despite not being officially listed initially.
The rule still applies elsewhere in the US — for now, the change only affects travellers going through standard TSA screening lines. Passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck, who have undergone a prescreening process, were already exempt from the shoe removal requirement.
Rationale for the Change
While the TSA has not publicly announced the policy shift, a statement to CBS News noted that both the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security are 'always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.' The shoe removal requirement was formally implemented in 2006, several years after the attempted shoe bombing incident by British national Richard Reid, now known as the 'Shoe Bomber,' in December 2001.
Implications for Travelers
As this relaxation of the protocol is phased in at select airports, it reflects a major shift in security measures after nearly two decades. While this change may be a welcomed relief to frequent flyers, it is not yet universal. Travellers flying from US airports not listed in the initial phase should still expect to remove their shoes unless they are part of the TSA PreCheck programme. There is no timeline yet for a nationwide rollback, but industry insiders suggest that more airports could be quietly added in the coming weeks.