During the recent holidays, we traveled to visit my wife’s family in Romania, with a layover at Frankfurt Airport. While a transatlantic flight with a four-year-old can be challenging, for a security professional it was a fascinating journey. The amount of technology embedded in airports over the past few years is striking. Here are a few examples of how AI is being integrated into the most fundamental airport security tasks – watchlist alerting, sterile areas, baggage screen

Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s announcement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to deploy advanced scanning equipment at the Laredo Rail Port of Entry is being framed as a breakthrough for secure trade. The company is providing a Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System Integrated Rail 6500 and a radiation portal monitor, technology meant to penetrate even dense shielding in railcars. CBP officials describe it as a way to facilitate lawful trade and travel, but the move raises

Travelers in the U.S. just got some relief: shoes no longer have to come off at airport security checkpoints, following a successful pilot that went live nationwide. But this small comfort comes at a moment of rising debate over how people are screened at borders. While efficiency is critical to keeping lines moving, lawmakers are raising alarms over the rapid expansion of biometric tools like facial recognition. The tension between flow, security, and civil liberties is res

Global air travel is pushing past pre-pandemic highs, and airports are racing to upgrade checkpoint technology to keep pace. The latest deployments focus on CT-based carry-on baggage scanners, which generate 3D images of luggage contents and allow operators to rotate and inspect items digitally. At Heathrow Airport in London, as well as at hubs in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, the new scanners are gradually replacing legacy x-ray machines. The change means passengers will no longe

On July 7, 2025, a gunman opened fire near McAllen International Airport in Texas, ambushing Border Patrol agents and injuring several officers before being neutralized. The incident, which forced temporary flight delays, is the latest reminder that airports remain prime targets for unpredictable and fast-moving attacks. While perimeter patrols and armed response are essential, many threats are first stopped not at the curbside, but at the checkpoint. For airport security pro

In a follow-on TSA sustainment award announced January 23, 2025, Leidos will maintain more than 12,000 units of Transportation Security...