LOS ANGELES – With the eyes of the country - and the world - on Los Angeles for Super Bowl LVI this past Sunday, the gaze shifted Monday to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for the traditional “get away” day and a surge in the number of departing travelers.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at LAX had been planning security operations in support of the Super Bowl for months. This included ensuring that checkpoints were fully staffed and resources were in place for maximum security efficiency and effectiveness.
On Monday at LAX, TSA screened more than 81,000 travelers and their carry-on luggage through the security checkpoints. The highest recorded wait time at any point during the day was 10 minutes. TSA at LAX also screened more than 48,000 checked bags.
“While our focus was security, we didn’t want to lose sight of what the Super Bowl means to most people. It is a magnificent event that brings people together from all around the country and the world,” said TSA Federal Security Director for LAX Keith Jeffries. “We took a great deal of pride in being part of the security planning and working closely with our partners and stakeholders. We had to make sure that everything behind the scenes went smoothly, so the public could enjoy themselves. The energy and enthusiasm of our employees was evident in every aspect of the TSA operation.”
Overnight Sunday, TSA kept two security checkpoints open, requiring several employees to add an additional shift to their schedules. On Monday, no later than 4 a.m., every security checkpoint in every terminal was open to screen travelers.
In the day leading up to the Super Bowl, more than 30 TSA explosive detection canines and their handlers worked at key venues such as the Los Angeles Convention Center, SoFi Stadium and LAX. Some of the teams are based at LAX while others came from airports from across the country. An additional 50 canines trained by TSA were involved as well, working side-by-side with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Throughout the week, TSA deployed Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams at transportation hubs leading up to and after the Super Bowl. The could be seen working at LA Metro stations as well as at airports in the Los Angeles area.
TSA VIPR teams use a risk-based framework to deploy at unpredictable times and locations in cooperation with local authorities. This additional law enforcement, security presence during specific periods in support of special events is a deterrent against terrorist activity.
Once the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) classified the Super Bowl as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1, it qualified for extensive federal support. More than 500 DHS personnel including TSA employees were involved in dedicated security operations in and around the Los Angeles area.
Super Bowl LVII is slated for Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Security planning for that event is already underway.
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