For those of us who travel frequently and have become accustomed to languishing in long security clearance lines, a glimmer of hope has appeared on the horizon. In October 2008, officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport announced a series of improvements to the security screening process that will hopefully speed the procedure for boarding flights at the airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest air terminal handling upwards of 89 million passengers annually, is in the midst of a $26 million customer service improvement program that includes ten new security lanes. The new lanes in the North and South terminals will bring the total number of these lanes to 32.

“Thanks to these new lanes, we will be able to further reduce the time it takes for our customers to make their way through the security screening process,” said airport general manager Ben DeCosta at a news conference announcing the improvements. “The airport aims for security checkpoint wait times that never exceed 20 minutes and tries to keep the average wait down to between five and ten minutes. During the busiest period this summer, the airport managed to reduce the number of wait times exceeding 20 minutes by almost 90 percent as compared to last year.”

A new system of signs will direct passengers to the airport’s security lanes. Transportation Safety Administration area director Gerald Chapman said that the new signs, already successfully implemented at 45 other airports, will be similar to those found on ski slopes. Black diamonds (corresponding to expert skiers) will direct elite and frequent business fliers to the fastest lanes. Blue squares (designating intermediate skiers on the slopes) will be for casual travelers who may have carry-on luggage, but who have a basic understanding of security rules. The green circles (beginner skiers) will be for passengers with young children or who have special needs.

“The ultimate goal is customer satisfaction, allowing passengers to select the lanes of their needs and according to their experience and also to enhance our security,” Chapman noted.

Another enhancement at Hartsfield-Jackson is a new Global Entry Program offered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Select U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are at least 14 years old can opt to participate in the program that features the convenience of prescreening and exemption from routine questioning to expedite their entry into the U.S.

With the payment of an enrollment fee, registered participants can access a self-service kiosk to report their arrival, scan their passport or permanent residency card, submit their fingerprints for biometric verification, and make a CBP declaration at the touch-screen kiosk. The traveler is then photographed and given a receipt as part of the transaction record and directed to baggage claim and the exit. Program participants are advised that they may still be selected randomly by CBP officers for additional screening at any time during the process.

Heightened security concerns at airports today have led to enactment of the numerous lengthy and often confusing procedures for fliers checking in and boarding flights. Improvements such as the ones in Atlanta are certainly welcome news!