Smooth Takeoff at Airports

Mention flying in the last year and virtually everyone has offered a personal story about the discouraging, disconcerting inconveniences of U.S. air travel post-9/11 -- the immovable lines, the disorganization and disinformation, the imperial delays and rudeness at security checkpoints. Now, suddenly, another tale to tell: A quick scan of the nation’s new airport screening system over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend revealed no major problems and an impressively smooth flow of some 10 million people and many more carry-ons. And you thought the mall was packed.

Less than a month into federalized screening at the country’s 429 airports, more than 30,000 new screeners in their even newer white shirts offered reassuring hope for similarly smooth, safe travel during the lengthier holiday season to come. At peak times, long lines flowed faster than Starbucks’ -- under 10 minutes in most places.

Transportation Security Administration screeners, fresh from 110 hours of training, appeared organized, efficient, even courteous as they X-rayed, tested, scanned, sniffed and combed through the handbags, briefcases, backpacks, garment bags, boxes and pockets of total strangers. They were thorough, seizing potential weapons from a small percentage of passengers. In return, the screeners got generally courteous responses from surprised travelers expecting far worse. Amazing what a little more training and salary and a fresh perspective can do.

It was a huge task for the security administration to find, screen and train so many new workers since early summer, all part of a far larger bureaucratic and mental adjustment to greater security consciousness. Estimated government spending for security and against terrorism in the next decade runs about $600 billion, more than four times the cost of landing men on the moon. Increased security -- and, what’s more important, a sense of increased security -- is essential in a society that relies so much on mutual trust. More travel wouldn’t hurt the soft economy and struggling airlines either.

Beyond its workforce, the security agency’s challenge remains gargantuan and will be measured ultimately in what does not happen. We had one safe, smooth holiday week, no small accomplishment. More tests lie ahead -- all luggage must be screened starting New Year’s Day. Then comes air cargo, still virtually unexamined. So far, however, hats -- and coats -- off to the diligent security people. Now, if we can just remember to leave carry-on presents unwrapped later this month.