August 31, 2002

There has been some controversy and unhappiness over the airport terminal's new second-floor configuration. Two key allegations are that management is driving the small operators out of business and that Alaska Airlines gets whatever it wants. In response I have prepared the following summary, for sharing with the Assembly and the general public, of the events and circumstances that led to the new configuration.

In the past Alaska Airlines screened passengers within minutes of boarding the aircraft. The sterile holding area worked adequately for this purpose; it was marginally large enough to accommodate passenger loads for brief periods. When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) imposed stricter screening procedures Alaska Airlines was compelled to begin screening much earlier or face costly flight delays. Earlier screening meant passengers spent more time in the sterile holding area. For this type of use the facility needed to be expanded considerably and include restroom facilities.

In March of this year Alaska Airlines began discussions with airport management concerning the new screening procedures and the impact they would have during the peak season. They formally requested the sterile area be enlarged to include the restrooms. Management agreed that the changes needed to be made before the peak summer traffic to avoid unsafe conditions and unacceptable flight delays. Our goal was to put these changes in place by June 30th. The terminal remodel project was scheduled to start in July, but the contractor's schedule would not address the existing second floor until December. A temporary modification was necessary.

Future issues needed to be addressed as well. First, TSA would soon be installing equipment and placing new federal screeners by November 2002. Second, the new TSA agents would have to implement even stricter screening procedures beginning December 31, 2002, adding even more time to the process.

The best solution from an airport standpoint was to make the entire second floor sterile. Passengers would trickle up from the ticket counter and immediately process through the screening checkpoint. Once inside, they would have all the amenities and would have no reason to leave the sterile area.

But this solution was not acceptable to some concessionaires. Having their businesses inside the sterile area meant only ticketed passengers could access their facilities. They were justifiably concerned about the impact on their businesses. I personally worked with these concessionaires to develop an all-sterile second-floor design and a security plan amendment that would have allowed us to operate in a way that would benefit all concerned. Simultaneously we worked on alternate designs that would have kept the concessions outside the sterile area.

TSA disapproved the security plan amendment, and would not accept deviations to key elements. What followed was a frustrating process for everyone, delayed by mistakes, emotions and politics. My focus was beginning to shift to an alternative design that would have allowed the concessions to remain outside the sterile area. TSA quickly changed my focus back.

A TSA site assessment team advised us that the new equipment would arrive in September, and the employees would begin arriving in October. For two screening lines, which the contractor would recommend to TSA, the checkpoint needed to be 27' X 34'. This is a standard TSA adopted and for which they will not deviate unless there is insufficient space. We had sufficient space.

TSA's checkpoint requirements were much bigger than anything we had imagined. It forced us to reject the design alternatives ­ there was no longer room for a combined sterile/non-sterile design and the new screening checkpoint. It became apparent that an all-sterile second floor was the only way to achieve our objectives and meet TSA's requirements. And we had to do it before the equipment arrived in September.

So here we are with the new design. As of August 23, almost 11,000 passengers processed through the new checkpoint, and to my knowledge only one of them filed any kind of complaint. Many have had positive things to say.

Did going inside the sterile area have a negative impact on the concessions? Yes. But they would have been impacted had they stayed outside the sterile area too. Some wanted us to do nothing until after August, which is the biggest month. We had to do something now precisely because it was the busiest month; to wait would have overloaded the sterile area and caused unacceptable conditions. TSA was also directing us to prepare for the new equipment.

Does the new design have a negative impact to family members who want to see their loved one arrive or depart? Yes. Like many airports, they cannot meet them at the gate, and unfortunately they cannot patronize the concessions while they wait. We are taking steps to accommodate these patrons on the first floor.

Airport businesses nationwide are impacted by the events of September 11. As a manager, it is my job to determine and implement the best course of action. The changes we implemented did the most good for the most users. We have already overcome many of the obstacles that impacted the concessions and patrons, and we will continue to improve in that area. But meanwhile we will maintain our prime objective: maintaining a safe and secure transportation infrastructure for the traveling public.

Editor's Note:

David Allen is the Ketchikan Gateway Borough's Director of Transportation Services.

 

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