San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced plans to expand and improve the two security screening checkpoints located in the Mayor Edwin M. Lee International Departures Hall, as part of its $152 million upgrade programme.
When completed, the expanded checkpoints will be able to accommodate more screening lanes, while offering travellers a more relaxing, easier-to-navigate security experience.
The airport reported that in the past five years, international passenger traffic at SFO has grown by 46% and in 2019 the two security checkpoints screened over 7.5 million travellers.
“As we continue to elevate the quality of all facilities at SFO, we are excited to launch this project to improve the security screening experience in the Mayor Edwin M. Lee International Departures Hall,” said Ivar Satero, Airport Director, San Francisco International Airport. “This project will both improve the current process while also paving the way for future improvements and innovations in security screening.”
Currently, the security checkpoint for Gates A1 – A15 has 8 lanes, while the checkpoint for Gates G1 – G14 has 7 lanes. Once complete, the new checkpoints will each feature 10 security screening lanes. SFO plans to install traditional lanes upon opening, but the project will allow for easy conversion to Automated Screening Lanes (ASLs), which are already being deployed in Harvey Milk Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at SFO.
The project to expand the security checkpoints at SFO is part of a larger $152 million programme to upgrade the International Terminal facility, which opened for public use in December 2000, and includes improvements to boarding gate hold rooms and new furnishings.
