Miami International Airport Debuts New Scanners that Lets You Keep Electronics in Bags

Some passengers travelling through security at Miami Airport will no longer be required to remove electronic devices from their carry-on bags.

Seven computed tomography (CT) scanners have been installed at six TSA checkpoints at Miami International, allowing passengers traveling through those lanes to leave laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags.

The new technology provides improved explosive detection screening by using algorithms to detect explosives and creating a 3-D image that can be viewed and rotated on three axes for thorough visual image analysis by a TSA officer. TSA’s current screening technology for carry-on bags uses 2-D images.

 If a bag requires further screening, TSA officers will inspect it to ensure that a threat item is not contained inside.

“These new scanners from the TSA are helping us streamline and expedite the screening process for our passengers, at a time in air travel when a smooth flowing checkpoint has never been more important,” said Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO.

These seven units join three others previously installed when MIA became one of the first airports in the country to begin rolling out this technology at TSA checkpoints.

“TSA is committed to putting in place the best technology while also improving the screening experience,” said Daniel Ronan, TSA’s Federal Security Director for MIA. “CT technology enhances TSA’s threat detection capability through both automated detection and allowing our frontline workforce to use the 3-D feature to spin the image that triggered an alarm to ascertain if a threat is present without opening the bag.”

It’s part of the TSA’s overall plan to decrease the number of physical bag searches needed to improve operational efficiency and automated detection. In March 2019, the agency said it would be acquiring 300 new CT scanners for $96.8 million.

TSA has CT technology at checkpoints at the following airports:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL); Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI); Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD); Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG); Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW); Houston Hobby Airport (HOU); Indianapolis International Airport (IND); John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK); Logan International Airport (BOS); Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); Miami International Airport (MIA); Oakland International Airport (OAK); Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX); Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL); Tampa International Airport (TPA); and Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD).