Different airports handle transit security in different ways. For example, if you’re flying domestically within most countries and are connecting, you usually don’t have to clear security twice, since being screened the first time is sufficient.
However, there are also instances where you don’t have to clear security when connecting on an international itinerary. For example, if you’re flying from New York to Frankfurt to Paris, you wouldn’t have to clear security in Frankfurt, because of the security agreements in place.
Currently if you’re flying from the US to Asia and connecting, you have to clear security at your connecting airport in Asia. Well, at least that has been the case up until now, though it’s changing shortly, as an airport will run a trial that eliminates this.
Between April 3 and April 12, 2019, select passengers connecting at Narita Airport from the US to other points in Asia won’t have to clear security at Narita.
This is only valid for select flights, and only applies if flying from the US to Narita and connecting onwards, and doesn’t apply if connecting from other points in Asia to Narita and continuing to the US.
What’s interesting is the airport’s motivation in offering this. Haneda Airport is about to get a bunch more flights to & from the US, and Narita is worried this will lead to a big reduction in the number of flights between Narita and the US. For example, Delta could pull out of Narita entirely if they’re granted the Haneda slots they want.
So Narita Airport is trying this initiative as a way to make the process of connecting easier, hoping this will give them a competitive advantage.
I’d love to see more airports offer this. Currently this only applies for flights from the US to Canada and select European gateways, but it would be awesome to see the same be the case in Asia.
Well, at least I think that would be a good thing. The problem is that I don’t have much faith in the TSA’s ability to screen properly. So one hand a second security screening might not be a bad thing, though on the other hand at that point people have already taken a transoceanic flight, so…
Bottom line
Between April 3 and April 12, 2019, Narita Airport has a trial where passengers coming from the US won’t have to clear security before their connections. They’re doing this to try and get a competitive advantage, though it remains to be seen if this will actually be expanded.
Are you in favor of transit security being eliminated at more airports, or do you think it poses a security risk?
(Tip of the hat to View from the Wing)
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