A short-term resolution is in the final stages as it seeks to address the challenges passengers who fly from Guam through Hawaii, and on to one of the contiguous states. 

Delegate James Moylan held a discussion with representatives from the Transportation Security  Administration to follow up on a discussion he had with TSA Administrator David Pekoske earlier this year regarding the baggage issue in the Honolulu Airport.

Today, a transit passenger arriving from Guam would have to collect their bags and then walk an extensive distance to drop their luggage at a United Airlines counter. 

This poses significant challenges for manamko, persons with disabilities, or even those traveling with young children. 

Likewise, individuals with short layovers must rush to deliver their bags on one side of the airport and have to get to their gate on the other end.

“We had a positive discussion with TSA to follow up on previous conversations with Administrator Pekoske and others, and they are close to finalizing a bag drop section, which is adjacent to the sterile arrival area. This would reduce the extensive walk passengers have to endure. Once their bags are dropped off, there would be a short walk towards a TSA checkpoint, and then the passenger would head to their gate,” said Moylan. 

He extends his gratitude to the TSA, CBP, and United Airlines for their cooperation in finding ways to ease the transition process. 

There are discussions of more long-term solutions, which may eliminate the need for a passenger to collect the bag at the sterile arrival area or even proceed to a TSA screening, but once again this is a more extensive conversation that will require some time and Congressional action,” he added.

Current timelines for this new bag drop section are estimated to be towards the end of the year.