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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 16 January 2019

8PM

Super Bowl planners: Shutdown

brings 'uncharted territory'

By JEFF MARTIN But the government shut- Monday.
Associated Press down is a wild card that The TSA had a national ab-
ATLANTA (AP) — A day af- arose relatively late in that sence rate of nearly 7 per-
ter travelers waited nearly planning process. cent Monday, compared
90 minutes in snail-speed "Certainly there are fac- to 2.5 percent on a com-
security lines at the world's tors that we don't control parable day a year ago,
busiest airport, Atlanta's such as what's happening the agency reported Tues-
mayor is concerned about with our federal govern- day after getting complete
the waits that could result ment shutdown and with numbers on the absences.
when the city hosts the the long TSA lines," Bottoms A chaotic scene unfolded
2019 Super Bowl. said. "We are continuing to at Atlanta's airport on Mon-
In this Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, file photo, workers hang ban- The ongoing partial govern- encourage people to get day, the first business day
ners on Mercedes-Benz Stadium in preparation for the NFL Super ment shutdown is "unchart- to the airport very early." after screeners did not re-
Bowl football game, in Atlanta. Atlanta leaders, police and fed- ed territory" amid planning The expected crush of trav- ceive a paycheck for the
eral officials plan to discuss public safety plans ahead of Super for one of the world's big- elers is significantly more first time.
Bowl 53. gest sporting events, Mayor than normal. Mondays are typically busy
Associated Press Keisha Lance Bottoms said On a typical day, 60,000 for the airport as Atlanta
Tuesday. to 80,000 passengers are business travelers depart
"Obviously, we are in un- screened at Atlanta's air- for the work week, and
charted territory with the port before departing, air- some security lanes went
shutdown that's gone on port statistics show. unstaffed as lines backed
this long, and we are pre- On Feb. 4, the day Bottoms up.
paring as best we can from calls "Mass Exodus Mon- Atlanta passengers led the
our vantage point," Bot- day," about 110,000 pas- nation Monday in terms of
toms said. sengers are expected to longest screening delays:
The mayor and others at a be departing from Atlan- The "maximum standard
Tuesday news conference ta's airport one day after wait time" was 88 minutes,
said two years of planning the Super Bowl. the TSA reported. Passen-
have them well-prepared The partial government gers who went through TSA
to protect the public. shutdown has meant PreCheck — an expedited
"Our goal is for our officers missed paychecks for screening program which is
to be visible, for the public Transportation Security Ad- typically faster than regular
to feel safe, be safe, and ministration screeners at lines — waited 55 minutes,
be able to position our- airports nationwide. statistics showed.
selves so that we can react TSA workers have been Friday could be the next
immediately to whatever calling in sick at a rate big test for the nation's air-
scenario we are confront- that's been more than dou- ports, as holiday travelers
ed with," Atlanta Police ble what it normally is, the get away for the upcom-
Chief Erika Shields said. "I agency has said. That's led ing long holiday weekend.
think that with anything to a shortage of screeners Martin Luther King Jr. Day is
you can go in with a spirit at some airports across the Monday. Friday is also typi-
of confidence if you have country. cally a busy day for airports
prepared, and we have No-shows among screeners as business travelers head
prepared well." jumped Sunday and again home for the weekend.q