NYC airports to get $400 million for explosive detectors

Published 25 August 2008

Responding to post 9/11 federal mandates, three New York City-area airports invested about $400 million in security upgrades; the federal government has agreed to reimburse the airports for the expenses

The federal government will pay $400 million to reimburse New York City-area airports for post-9/11 baggage screening upgrades. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has told ew York officials it will cover the costs of installing bulky explosive detectors at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports. The money will be paid over two years. Representative Peter King (R-new York) says the decision helps airports pay for “an important layer of our security system.” 

After the 2001 terror attacks, Congress required airports to install explosive detectors for baggage. Airports have been gradually moving the big machinery out of lobbies and behind closed doors.