HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaiian Airlines says travelers should expect even longer wait times than usual at Honolulu International Airport over the busy holiday weekend. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaiian Airlines says travelers should expect even longer wait times than usual
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaiian Airlines says travelers should expect even longer wait times than usual at Honolulu International Airport over the busy holiday weekend.
Despite Memorial Day being one of the busiest weekends of the year for traveling, the Transportation Security Administration at Honolulu International Airport will have two less canine units than usual, said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.
Tim Sakahara, a spokesman for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, said the TSA says it will allow overtime for employees if needed and open additional checkpoints during peak hours.
The TSA did not immediately return phone calls in request for comment.
Dunkerley said they’re not expecting more travelers than usual for the busy weekend. Instead, the TSA has reallocated resources from the Honolulu airport to others on the mainland, which could add to the wait times in Hawaii, he said.
“Shuffling resources from one place where there aren’t enough resources to another place where there aren’t enough resources really doesn’t solve the underlying problem,” said Dunkerley, adding that he wants the federal government to give more funding to TSA.
The airline isn’t expecting more travelers than usual for the holiday weekend, but says travelers should arrive at least two hours before their flight and check security guidelines for packing carry-on bags, Dunkerley said. He said passengers can cut down the time to go through security checkpoints by enrolling in the TSA PreCheck expedited screening program, which allows travelers to keep their shoes on and computers in the bags.
TSA data shows passengers had to wait as long as 30 minutes to pass through Honolulu security lines on Wednesday.
