Can WA travelers keep their shoes on for security screenings at Tri-Cities Airport?
Travelers will no longer need to slip off their shoes going through the security checkpoint at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco.
This week, the Department of Homeland Security announced the change at many airports to improve travel experience and reduce wait times at U.S. domestic airports. It was a 20-year old policy started in 2006.
“This is welcome news for our travelers, who can now enjoy an even smoother experience when they fly local,” Buck Taft, director of the Tri-Cities Airport, said in a release Thursday.
Initial reports this week said the change started this week at selected airports and the rule could be lifted nationwide in the future.
There shouldn’t be impacts to safety, said officials. Security protocols like identity verification, Secure Flight pre-flight screening and baggage screenings are still in place at airports.
Plus the new Real ID requirements mean travelers must arrive at the airport with a Real ID-compliant enhanced driver license or passport.
If a passenger sets off an alarm while being screened they will be required to take off their shoes for more screening, said Transportation Safety Administration officials.
The shoe removal rule began in 2006 after Richard Reid tried to ignite homemade shoe explosives on a flight to Miami in December 2001.
This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM.
