TSA Grand Rapids No. 1 in ACI poll

Monday, November 28, 2022
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A top aviation group ranks the TSA team in Grand Rapids, Michigan, No. 1 when it comes to security screening.

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Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) TSA Officer Ben Mason helps passengers move their carry-ons through the X-ray at GRR’s checkpoint. (Photo by Jamie Aitken)

In its quarterly ranking, Airports Council International (ACI) named Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) tops in North America in security screening wait times and ease of going through security screening. 

 “Our TSA team at GRR earned another top placement in two categories of ACI’s Airport Service Quality survey,” said Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Business Affairs Coordinator Laura Feigel. “We truly appreciate all of TSA GRR’s efforts in making our guest experience a priority.” 

GRR’s average standard wait time between July and September was 1.8 minutes with a 1.3-minute average passenger wait in the airport’s TSA PreCheck® line. The longest recorded wait time was 9 minutes for the standard lane and 5 minutes for PreCheck.

Michigan TSA Assistant Federal Security Director-Screening Jamie Aitken said the recognition is a true testament of TSA officers’ efforts every day at Michigan’s second largest airport.

“They move with a sense of purpose on the screening locations and are openly friendly with the passengers,” Aitken noted. “This reminds me of a time in 2019 when the “Today” show host and journalist Ann Curry came through the GRR central checkpoint and posted on Twitter, ‘A TSA agent just called me ‘Honey’, and another smiled and said, ‘Have a wonderful day.’ And everybody seems REALLY kind and nice. Oh that’s right, I’m in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Civility exists!’”

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Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) Lead TSA Officer Kelli Donald serves a passenger at GRR’s checkpoint. (Photo by Jamie Aitken)

Aitken said he couldn’t be more proud to work with GRR’s outstanding officers, who he feels show a real commitment to TSA’s mission, vision and core values. 

Bill Byrne, Michigan’s TSA deputy federal security director, added, “It is wonderful to see our team in GRR receive the highest accolades in class. This is a culmination of many efforts that do not go unnoticed.” 

 “I truly appreciate the accomplishments of the team at GRR,” Michigan TSA Federal Security Director Steve Lorincz said. “What they’ve achieved is representative of our core principles for the state of Michigan TSA, which is also what we aim to cultivate in our organization, what we value, and what we aspire to be.” 

From TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs