Airport security beefed up to meet US demands

| 08/07/2017 | 51 Comments

(CNS): The airport has begun implementing new security measures and is urging passengers to check in more than two hours before their flights to ensure they have time to go through the new system. The Cayman Islands Airports Authority said the procedures are in compliance with the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) recent changes to aviation security requirements for flights arriving into the US and the closer scrutiny of electronic devices larger than a cell phone.

Travellers will now need to place these items in a separate bin for screening, as is currently the case with laptops. Officials said that the TSA policy is designed to enhance passenger and aviation sector safety and is intended reduce the number of bags ultimately requiring manual inspection.

“While passengers get used to the new system, processing time may be a little slower than normal, especially during peak travel periods such as weekends and holidays,” said CIAA Chief of Security Shane Bothwell. “This is why all travellers are encouraged to allow themselves plenty of time prior to their scheduled time of departure.”

Bothwell explained that there are no changes to what is permitted in carry-on bags. “Passengers can be assured that our security team will be available to help guide them through the screening checkpoints as quickly and efficiently
as possible,” he added.

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Comments (51)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I cant wait to have to be there earlier so I can sit and wait even longer for my delayed flight, yay!

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  2. Slacker says:

    More paranoid right wing American politicians, believing that all planes are full of terrorists wanting to destroy America. Maybe if they had greater access to guns, they would relax and not feel the need to dictate to the rest of the world.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Owen Roberts International Airport is a joke tbh.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    I just came up to the States two days ago for a last minute trip. I was running late, and did not clean out my handbag, nor did I put liquid items into the one quart bag. So apparently the half dozen lighters in my purse did not pose a security risk, But my almost empty toothpaste in my carry-on was deadly and needed to be concifated?

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    • Anonymous says:

      I did write to the govt department for a clear explanation of what can and cannot be carried in hand luggage but got no response. At a recent journey, a tiny stick deodorant was deemed toxic, but a 4 inch screwdriver in my glasses case wasnt a problem. I think the customs officials (those indians and filipinos) make it up each time.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Our airport is such a joke. I flew out Wednesday, we had a little rain squall, they had to hold all the flights because we do not have a jetway. And just for extra fun there was water flowing into the departure gate by the gallons. The gate agents called for a.clean up and some guy showed up with a roll of paper towels. I kid you not. No worry about the mass of electrical cords, plugged into octopuses (or Octopi) sitting in water by gate 6. That is our Govt in a nutshell.

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  6. Time traveler says:

    Take note Cayman, it is not time to beef up checks for INCOMING
    Visitors

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  7. Anonymous says:

    As someone who travels through the airport at least once per month, I have one major frustration with the security screening at the airport. The staff behind the x-ray hold on to the bins for dear life and dish them out to people one at a time. At EVERY other airport, bins are provided at the start of the table so that people can prepare and place their items in the bin while waiting.

    I ask staff each time and they say that need to see what goes in to the bin and I always ask well can’t you do that as it comes by you after the passengers prepared the bins the length of the table. That is how everyone else does it! They say no.

    Can airport management please discuss this with the subcontractor? It is highly inefficient and leads to a backlog at the x-ray screener.

    Also, on the other side of the x-ray, the conveyor rollers point UPHILL!! absolutely ridiculous. They should point downhill and rely on gravity to move the bins away from the congestion at the machine. You will notice in London and many US airports, they are gravity rollers and travel away from the machine.

    Can someone please send the staff at security on a little field trip to Miami or Charlotte to see how it is done elsewhere? Better yet, we were just at the Delta terminal at JFK and it is beautifully efficient. Bins roll from one side back to the other on a lower conveyor where they are presented abundantly to passengers. I wish I had taken a photo. Better yet, I just found the press release on it. I realize we don’t have the resources to do what they’ve done but there are a few things that we can borrow.

    https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/2017/05/17/tsa-delta-and-jfkiat-jointly-launch-automated-screening-checkpoint-lanes

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    • Anonymous says:

      I also wonder why, with Caymanians being unemployed, our airport looks like Manila, even the latest airline coming to Cayman is allowed to only employ Phillipinos?
      The same goes for security, why is hardly a Caymanian employed at ORIA?

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      • Anonymous says:

        LOL looks so.

      • Anonymous says:

        Security for the check points provided is contracted by Flowers ( FADS- Dark Green uniforms) – That’s a question you would need to ask them why they don’t hire Caymanians

        security for the CIAA are all Caymanian .

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        • Anonymous says:

          I think we should Immigration why it is that way?? Who makes the big money on contracts/monopolies with Government?
          Just one other way of looking at that situation.

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      • The answer is simple. Caymanians do not want the jobs at the airport because they think they don’t pay enough. Caymanians do not work for minimum wage jobs. Sad but true.

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      • Veritas says:

        5.33am Maybe you should ask the Caymanian who owns the company which employs them.

      • Anonymous says:

        We are also looking a lot like New Delhi as well. This land is ours no more!! The Indians and Asians have taken over.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Anonymous 3:24pm – You are so very right. I’ve had the same argument with her about giving out those stupid bins. She guards them with her life. Get this; if you continue asking for a bin you get extra special treatment and extra special thorough inspections thru your bag looking for nothing, with a sly grin on her face. I stood patiently waiting, wasn’t going to let her ruffle my feathers and ruin the start of my vacation. She had to stay and work while I jetted off to fun times. I’ll be seeing her on Friday. I’ll be ready for her!
      And they are ALL as grumpy and mean as they are at MIA.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Can I go through in my underwear only? Just trying to make things easier.

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  9. AlanP says:

    This is lunacy.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile CNS was able to take or obtain a photo taken in a photo-free restricted area. Way to go CIAA!

    CNS:
    The photo was supplied by CIAA with a previous release.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    As far as I recall from US media announcements, these new SA restrictions apply only to a few specific countries. Further, the Cayman Islands is directed by UK security regulations, not USTSA. So, did CIAA explain why passengers may be further inconvenienced since these new US measures do not apply to the Cayman Islands or were not issued by the UK authorities. Perhaps knee-jerk reactions based on watching CNN?

    Anyway, when unsure I guess it’s better to over-react.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you want to land yor plane in the US, follow the rules.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Well isn’t that the point? Not all planes leaving Cayman land in the US so why are all planes being affected by this US regulation?

    • Anonymous says:

      @7:30 – The new measures apply to all planes arriving INTO the US irrespective of where they originate. Whether Cayman is directed by UK security regulations has nothing to do with it.

  12. Anonymous says:

    So Cayman is upgrading to YSA standards, the ones who cant seem to find ammunition in bags of exiting travelers, then they are found entering here in cayman, wouldnt upgrading to TSA standards be a downgrade?

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  13. Anonymous says:

    The US says JUMP and the world says HOW HIGH ?
    The real terrorists in the world are the americans. They make, sell and use the deadly weapons that cause so much horror in the world.
    It is time to stand up…..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yup, that is so true. plus they act like their country is so perfect and their shit doesn’t stink when in reality America is the most hostile place on this earth

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  14. Anonymous says:

    It is a joke…TSA do half assed job in USA as we have many people come Cayman with a bullet that missed by stupid TSA agents! Anyway all airport required all smartphones and laptop out of bags for screening..nothing is new!

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  15. Veritas says:

    I have always been asked to puy my tablet and Kindle in the tray with my laptop, so I don’t see the need for security processing to take any longer than before.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    “beefed up to meet US demands” — who is going to beef up US security to stop all this ammunition Cayman security find in bags that have been through america?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Hey, we’re just bringing the bullets to feed all your illegal guns. It seems those can be easily floated onto the island. It’s a win-win..

  17. Sharkey says:

    I hope that they go a little further than what the TSA is recommending, because sometime the TSA are not all there .

  18. Anonymous says:

    So exactly the same standards as applied by the CAA in London which only suggests arriving 1 hour in advance.

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