An inside look at TSA holiday travel preparations

Holiday travel is about to peak. As we prepare for busy airports, Boston 25 News got a look at what’s happening behind the scenes at Logan International Airport.

Few are allowed at TSA’s “Coordination Center," but the center plays a major role in the next few weeks of travel. It is basically their security hub, and Boston 25 News' visit was the first time a TV camera has been allowed inside.

The unit handles everything from baggage to checkpoint security, using their more than 200 cameras across the airport.  With the help of Massport, they are able to track a passenger from the moment they step into the building, to the moment they get to their gate. 
 
"If we had a security incident, we could backtrack the passenger to the security cue," said Bob Clair who leads the unit. 
 
They also use this technology to help minimize lines. If one line backs up, they can shift people to other lines, like TSA's precheck, to speed up the security process. 
 
They've already identified when the airport will be busiest leading up to Christmas. They believe traffic will pick up Friday, and last until the following Friday.  When at their peak, 61,000 people will come to Boston Logan to catch a flight. That's about 15,000 more than most days. 
 
"That allows our management team to maximize the officers that we have on the floor and maximize the technology we have," said Clair.
 
The other big component of the Coordination Center is looking for problems before they happen. In the hours after the Boston Marathon bombing, TSA deployed a specific plan looking for suspects in case they had come to the airport. 
 
The TSA also has little "Go Bags," which are ready at a moments notice. They can grab these bags and bring them anywhere, so they can do their job at a remote site.

Cox Media Group