Transportation

E-gates speed up screening at Charlotte airport

Photo: Adobe Stock

June 15, 2026

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The Transportation Security Administration has introduced eight self-service electronic gates for TSA PreCheck travelers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to an Axios report, expanding the use of automated passenger screening technology. The gates, located at Checkpoint 2, allow eligible travelers to verify their identity and boarding status without handing documents directly to a TSA officer. Officials said the system is designed to streamline the screening process and improve efficiency at one of the nation's busiest airports.

Passengers use the e-gates by scanning a REAL ID-compliant credential, such as a driver's license, passport or digital ID. The system verifies the traveler's boarding information, confirms TSA PreCheck eligibility and validates the identification document. It also uses facial matching technology to compare the traveler with the image associated with the credential before granting access to the screening area.

According to TSA Federal Security Director Greg Hawko, the automated process is expected to save roughly three seconds per passenger. While the time savings may appear modest on an individual basis, officials said the impact could be significant given that approximately 35,000 travelers pass through Charlotte Douglas checkpoints each day. The airport requested the technology as part of broader efforts to improve passenger flow following a recent terminal lobby expansion and checkpoint modernization project.

TSA officials said the e-gates do not replace security personnel. Instead, officers remain on site to monitor the process and assist travelers while allowing staffing resources to be shifted to other screening functions. Similar e-gate systems have been introduced at airports around the country over the past year, reflecting a broader push toward automation and biometric identity verification in airport security operations.