Starting this summer, getting through U.S. airports will start getting not only faster but possibly less annoying, with an end to pulling out laptops, liquids and food, just like in the PreCheck lane now.
TSA has signed a contract worth $781 million for almost 1,000 new CT X-ray scanners for carry-on baggage, capable of recognizing nearly anything you might have packed and showing it to the scanning agent in rotating 3-D. A TSA spokesperson described it as "like the CT scan machines you see at the hospital. And the difference in security is really the difference between a map and a globe.”
The new machines will join ones from an earlier order that have been installed and used in testing at several airports. Similar technology is also used in processing checked bags. TSA suggests listening closely for announcements on what to leave in and what to take out as the machines are phased in.
As for scanning people: that won't change at this point; passengers without PreCheck will still need to deal with removing jackets, belts, shoes, etc. in most cases.
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