Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) confirmed on 19 November that its remaining closed TSA checkpoints – Terminals A and F – will reopen by 22 November. The checkpoints were shuttered during the now-resolved government shutdown due to unpaid staffing.
PHL expects nearly one million passengers between Friday and the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, with Sunday forecast as the single busiest day (100,000+ travelers). Airport officials say additional overtime and canine teams have been authorized to keep wait times under 30 minutes.
![Philadelphia International to Reopen All TSA Checkpoints Ahead of Holiday Rush]()
For companies routing assignees through PHL or operating regional shuttles, the reopening eliminates the need to re-ticket via other hubs and should normalize door-to-door timings. Mobility managers should still advise travelers to arrive at least two hours before departure, as the TSA is onboarding new hires who may take time to reach optimal throughput.
The move is also a positive signal for other medium-size airports that pared back screening lanes during the shutdown; federal officials indicate similar reopenings will occur once staffing stabilizes.
PHL expects nearly one million passengers between Friday and the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, with Sunday forecast as the single busiest day (100,000+ travelers). Airport officials say additional overtime and canine teams have been authorized to keep wait times under 30 minutes.
For companies routing assignees through PHL or operating regional shuttles, the reopening eliminates the need to re-ticket via other hubs and should normalize door-to-door timings. Mobility managers should still advise travelers to arrive at least two hours before departure, as the TSA is onboarding new hires who may take time to reach optimal throughput.
The move is also a positive signal for other medium-size airports that pared back screening lanes during the shutdown; federal officials indicate similar reopenings will occur once staffing stabilizes.
