PHL Shuts Two TSA Checkpoints Temporarily Amid Federal Shutdown

(PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA) Philadelphia International Airport closed two TSA checkpoints this week as the federal government shutdown dragged into its fifth week, forcing managers to consolidate screening operations and redirect passengers to other terminals. Starting November 5, 2025, security lanes in Terminal A-West and Terminal F went dark, with no reopening date announced. The move affects international travelers flying on British Airways, Lufthansa, and Discover Airlines out of A‑West, and many regional passengers who usually pass through F for American Eagle departures and connections.

Airport officials said the closures are temporary but directly tied to staffing shortfalls caused by the shutdown, which as of November 10, 2025, had reached 35 days, tying the longest in U.S. history.

Why checkpoints closed and how operations are changing

With pay suspended for many federal employees, including Transportation Security Administration officers, the airport has seen increasing absences and resignations among screening staff. Managers chose to concentrate limited personnel at fewer TSA checkpoints to keep core operations running, rather than spread staff thinly across every terminal.

As a result:

• Security lanes in Terminals A‑East, B, C, and D/E remain active and are handling redirected passengers.
• Terminal C is open exclusively for TSA PreCheck members.
• Travelers destined for A‑West or F must use open checkpoints, then move to gates via secure-side connections or shuttles.

Important: The exclusive PreCheck availability in Terminal C does not eliminate the need to plan for longer walks and transfers between terminals while consolidation continues.

Traveler guidance and recommended arrival times

Philadelphia International Airport urged passengers to arrive early to offset longer screening lines and possible chokepoints:

• Domestic flights: arrive two hours early
• International flights: arrive three hours early

The airport is using the American Airlines secure-area shuttle to move travelers between affected terminals. That shuttle has become a key “pressure valve” for passengers whose normal checkpoint access changed overnight.

Who is affected most

The closures impact different traveler groups in distinct ways:

• International passengers on British Airways and Lufthansa who normally check in near A‑West must now factor in an added walk or shuttle after clearing security.
• Families on American Eagle regional flights — often with tight connections — face more complicated transfers when itineraries include Terminal F.
• People with disabilities or mobility concerns may need extra assistance for longer distances between checkpoints and gates.

Airport officials stress the recommendation to arrive earlier is not only about lines but also about extra time to navigate detours during the shutdown.

Operational limits and potential future changes

Officials have not given a timeline for reopening A‑West and F. The status will depend on:

• When federal funding resumes
• Whether enough TSA officers return to restore normal staffing

Past shutdowns showed mixed recoveries: some employees returned quickly, others moved on, leaving airports to rebuild teams. If the stalemate continues, further adjustments — like changes to screening hours or lane availability in open terminals — could follow, though no such changes have been announced.

Consolidating at fewer checkpoints is the airport’s current strategy to keep flights moving and avoid cascading gate holds that disrupt the day’s schedule.

System stresses beyond the checkpoint

The shutdown’s ripple effects reach well past the security lines:

• Airline station managers are adjusting boarding times and making additional gate announcements about screening route changes.
• Some carriers have increased customer-service staff near now-closed entrances to redirect passengers before they reach locked doors.
• Social media reports vary: some passengers experienced quick PreCheck processing in Terminal C, while others waited much longer in general screening lanes, especially during morning and late-afternoon peaks.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, large hub airports often respond to staffing squeezes by clustering screening lanes. That approach can stabilize throughput but may concentrate delays when multiple departures occur near the same time. Philadelphia, as a major East Coast connecting hub, is trying to strike that balance.

TSA PreCheck: still helpful, but not a cure-all

TSA PreCheck remains beneficial for enrolled travelers, especially with Terminal C’s exclusive availability. However:

• PreCheck members still need time to reach gates in other terminals.
• Benefits can vary when overall screening operations are consolidated.

For official updates and airport-specific guidance, travelers can consult the TSA’s Philadelphia page at tsa.gov/airport/phl. That page provides agency notices and links to screening policies that may help set expectations during the government shutdown.

Broader staffing implications

Philadelphia’s decision highlights how fragile airport staffing becomes when a shutdown extends beyond a few days. Each missed paycheck increases pressure on households and pushes some officers to seek other work. Once departures begin, it becomes harder to staff early-morning and late-night operations — the very periods that anchor a hub’s schedule.

Consolidating TSA checkpoints is intended to protect core operations, but it also strains passengers who rely on predictable screening times, particularly those connecting to international flights where boarding typically closes earlier.

Historical context and the airport’s stance

Airports generally avoid closing checkpoints unless circumstances force the issue. The last national discussion of closures on this scale came during the 2018–2019 shutdown, which introduced sporadic lane closures and terminal consolidations at major airports.

Philadelphia International Airport’s current closure of A‑West and F follows that playbook but is notable because the airport has stated there are no plans to reopen these specific lanes until funding resumes. By tying reopenings to the shutdown’s resolution, the airport indicates a return to normal depends on policy decisions in Washington rather than local operational changes.

Key takeaways for travelers

• Build in extra time: arrive two hours early for domestic flights, three hours for international.
• Check terminal maps and follow airport guidance once you arrive.
• Watch airline alerts and gate announcements — posted signs and agents will direct passengers from closed doors to active lanes.
• Expect longer transfers between checkpoints and gates, and the possibility that a few extra minutes at security could lead to missed connections if not planned for.

The longer the government shutdown continues, the more strain will appear — at the checkpoint and across the day’s schedule — where small delays can snowball into missed connections.