At least one aviation expert and former pilot expressed skepticism about the longevity of the current calm at airports, as several across the nation reported minimal issues on the first day of actual ID enforcement.
“From an operational perspective, both George W. Bush Intercontinental and Houston-Hobby are managing,” an airport representative in Houston commented on Wednesday.
Officials mentioned that Texas law enforcement has been issuing real IDs for about nine years, noting that approximately 90% of residents have these IDs already.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, representatives from the Port Authority, which oversees JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark-Liberty, stated that the situation was “not a problem.”
In a related note, a second deported man is reportedly seeking to have a judge revisit his case.
At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Fox News producers had a hassle-free experience, including escorted access for lunch.
Officials at Newark were providing paper slips to passengers who weren’t yet compliant with the real ID rules, as part of the first phase of rollout.
Moving to Philadelphia, officials there described the day as “smooth” regarding real ID implementation.
“The checkpoint line was consistent throughout the day, and TSA staff were available to assist with any questions,” they noted.
At Philadelphia International Airport, a customer care team was on hand to greet passengers and assist with inquiries, and many seemed prepared to present their actual IDs when reaching the checkpoints.
Down in Miami, the checks were reported as normal, underscoring the hub’s year-long collaboration with the TSA to inform travelers via terminal-wide signage about ID deadlines and alternatives.
In North Carolina, Charlotte Douglas experienced average wait times of around 10 minutes during the day, with staff feeling well-prepared for the situation.
The busiest airport in the country, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, reported smooth operations. “I was down near the checkpoint and didn’t observe any negative impacts,” shared Herschel Glengent Jr. from Hartsfield-Jackson.
Officials at Boston Logan echoed these positive assessments, noting they implemented similar communication strategies as Miami to prepare for the ID deadline.
They mentioned their customer service team was reminded to have extra staff available to greet passengers and check IDs before they got in line.
However, former commercial and private pilot Ryan Tseko warned in an interview that this peaceful phase might be short-lived.
“The potential for delays within the system is significant,” said Tseko, who has experience working at United Express and now serves as vice president of Cardone Capital.
He expressed concerns that the general public might not be fully aware of the impending complications, especially as many of the affected individuals are students needing to travel long distances.
He predicted that if issues arise, the calls for delaying full implementation may resurface, as has been the trend since the Bush administration.
