TSA rules and the impact
on U.S. travel

2011 was predicted by many analysts to be a good year for the travel industry following the recent economic downturn. However, the recent increase in security measures by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has made forecasts a little less reliable.

The introduction of full-body scanners at airports and other invasive procedures appears to have had a measurable increase in reluctance to travel. A survey on personal travel plans for 2011 by Consumer Travel Alliance shows that 46% of Americans will travel roughly the same amount as this year, while 30% plan to fly more and 23% intend on flying less.

This sits at odds with previous predictions which forecasted an greater increase in travel in 2010. The U.S. Travel Association has expressed concerns over the negative and widely- ublicised press regarding intense security screening, and is launching proposals on how to make procedures less invasive and more efficient. The TSA has claimed that they are taking the concerns of the U.S. Travel Association and those of air travellers on board, and also states that it has scaled back some of its screening policies in light of feedback received.

However, it has made a tough stance on existing measures and the government has insisted that some procedures (such as full-body scans and frisk searches) will not be withdrawn. The Department of Homeland Security has released data showing that there were at least 54 full-body scanners in active use at major American airports in 2009. Recently, it was reported that some scanners were deactivated on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterwards in an attempt to speed up airport screening on what are the two busiest days of the air travel calendar.

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