Complaints about long TSA lines have prompted the Lafayette Airport Commission to try and find a solution.

“We’ve been experiencing some growth at the airport, which is a good item. But also with that, we’re having growing pains because of the [security] checkpoint.. [It] is very restricted just due to the size of the building,” says the airport’s executive director, Steven Picou.

He tells News 10 they ask passengers to check in at least an hour and a half before their flights to prevent missing them. He says this is especially needed around 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.– times all airlines have flights departing.

But he says resolving the TSA congestion issue is more complicated than just finding the fastest fix. He tells us they have to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration so that whatever solution they come up with meets the required guidelines. 

Some of the ideas they’re looking at to resolve the problem are adding equipment that would expedite the process or even adding another TSA line during high traffic hours.

“Our goal is to limit or to reduce that wait time in working with the TSA and looking at other avenues for screening, ensuring the national safety of the aircrafts and the passengers in them and fulfilling TSA rules and regulations,” says Picou.

He adds that the new terminal currently being built will come with two TSA lines of its own.