MSP Airport adding new security checkpoint to reduce wait times

The busy spring travel season is just around the corner, and travelers at MSP Airport are about to get some help with additional TSA checkpoint lanes to speed up the process. The new “North Security Checkpoint” is scheduled to open on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The checkpoint will be located where the old Hot Dish restaurant used to be at Terminal 1-Lindbergh. It will start out with four lanes but have 10 by the end of the week, with more room for travelers to get ready for and recover from the screening process.

Once the North Checkpoint gets up to speed, the airport will rename the 6-lane Checkpoint 6 the “South Security Checkpoint,” and close most of the other checkpoints in between.

The TSA hopes two mega-checkpoints at both ends of the airport will drop the average wait time from 15 minutes to 12.5 minutes. And eventually, mesh signs will show wait times above both checkpoints so travelers can choose whichever has the shortest lines.