Tampa International Airport launched its annual spring break travel period on Monday with a significant upgrade at Airside E, officially unveiling a new 19,542-square-foot security checkpoint equipped with advanced screening technology.

The revamped space marks a substantial improvement for Airside E, which was originally designed and constructed before the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration and has been in operation since 2002. The expanded queueing area now accommodates an additional screening lane, increasing the total from six to seven and integrating the latest security advancements.

Airport CEO Joe Lopano commended the collaborative effort behind the checkpoint enhancement, emphasizing its timely completion as passenger traffic surges during TPA’s busiest travel season.

“With our busy Spring Break travel period kicking off this month, this is a great time to be able to celebrate the opening of this checkpoint,” Lopano said. “The fast-paced growth at TPA in recent years led us to right-size the space to modernize and enhance traveler safety and security, thanks to the dedication of all the partners involved in this project.”

Lopano was joined by U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, Transportation Security Administration Federal Security Director Kirk Skinner, and Suffolk Construction’s Tampa General Manager Jim Scarpace.

Lee represented a coalition of Tampa Bay Congressional delegates, including Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Kathy Castor, Scott Franklin, Anna Paulina Luna, and Greg Steube, who collaborated to secure the TSA screening equipment for the airport.

“What a pleasure it was to see months of hard work come to fruition today at Tampa International Airport,” Lee said. “I am proud to have played a part in securing funding for the new TSA security screening equipment at TPA to help streamline and improve the security process and ensure residents and visitors can travel safely and efficiently. The Tampa Bay Area has seen monumental growth in recent years, and I am excited to keep working to invest in technology and infrastructure that supports the growth of our entire region.”

The new security checkpoint is accessible via a newly constructed passageway in the southeast corner of the Airside E shuttle lobby. Featuring expansive windows and high ceilings, the space offers a brighter, more open atmosphere compared to the previous checkpoint, which will be reconfigured as part of the ongoing renovation.

Airside A, which originally opened in 1995, is also undergoing a similar expansion of its security checkpoint, with completion expected in the coming weeks.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors approved funding for the project, covering both Airside E and Airside A, during its August 2023 meeting. The $65.1 million construction cost is being financed primarily through bonds, with an additional $525,000 contributed through FDOT grants.

The post Tampa International Airport Enhances Spring Break Travel with New Over Nineteen Thousand Square-Foot Security Checkpoint at Airside E appeared first on Travel And Tour World.