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American Morning

Ask CNN: Why Would Airports Choose Private Screeners?

Aired December 25, 2001 - 07:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CNN ANNOUNCER: Sharlene Silva from Broadview Heights, Ohio asks, what circumstances or conditions would prompt an airport to opt for private security over federal security?

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks for your question, Sharlene. The Aviation Security Act makes the federal government directly responsible for airport passenger and baggage screening. It puts a federal manager in charge of security at each airport. It requires all baggage brought onto an airplane to be searched and it makes provisions to improve both airplane and crew security.

And now it's going to take a year for the federal government to take over the screening process, and once it is under federal control, a pilot program can begin that allows up to five airports to resume the use of private sector employees to screen passengers, but will prompt an airport to opt out of the federal screening system and go private isn't really clear. Economics alone won't prompt airports to move toward private screening because all private sector workers will have to meet government standards and be paid at least as much as the federal work force and federal funds are going to be used to pay for them.

Some smaller airports owned by local municipalities or counties could choose the hire private security screeners in the interest of public service, but only if they can prove that private groups can do a better job. So while the preferences of individual airport operators can vary, under the law, the question of federal versus private sector screening at airports may be academic.

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