Baggage screeningO'Hare gets grant for baggage screening system

Published 8 October 2009

DHS’s push for better baggage screening at U.S. airports continues; the latest recipient of baggage screening upgrade grants: Chicago’s O’Hare

DHS has awarded a $13.6 million grant to O’Hare International Airport for construction of a new inline baggage handling system designed to enhance airport security. Senator Dick Durbin’s office made the announcement of the grant in a release today. “Expanding the use of the inline baggage handling technology will strengthen security in Chicago and destinations around the country,” Durbin said in the release. The system also will make travel through O’Hare more efficient, he said.

According to DHS, inline baggage handling systems use state-of-the-art technology to screen baggage for explosives quickly while streamlining the ticketing and boarding process. The systems eliminate the need for passengers to walk checked baggage to a screening location before proceeding to the security checkpoint. They also provide on-screen resolution capabilities for Transportation Security officers, which reduces the need to rescan luggage and perform physical bag searches.