TSA Installs 1,162 CT Scanners at 296 Airports, With Some Limits on Bag Size and Film

The Transportation Security Administration has deployed 1,162 computed tomography scanners at checkpoints across 296 airports as of early July. The Hill reported that the agency continues to install the units under contracts with several security technology firms. CT scanners produce 3D images of bags and rely on algorithms that automatically flag explosives and other suspicious items.

Peter Duffy, a federal security director for the TSA, stated in a press release issued this week that the technology enhances threat detection at checkpoints. Passengers in CT lanes are not required to remove laptops, electronic devices or liquids that meet the 3-1-1 rule. The TSA said the change improves the screening experience for travelers.

The new units have smaller entry tunnels than older X-ray machines, so some larger carry-on bags may not fit. A TSA spokesperson told Nexstar that the design accommodates more powerful X-ray hardware. Undeveloped film, including film already loaded in a camera, can be ruined by the higher X-ray exposure.

The Department of Homeland Security has spent well over a billion dollars on the upgrades, according to 2022 and 2023 announcements cited by The Hill.