A new staffing program at Orlando International Airport aims to keep TSA lines moving—and make the experience a little less chaotic.
Love it or hate it, MCO has a reputation
Orlando International Airport (MCO) has a reputation—and not always a good one.
Between long security lines, confused first-time travelers, and sheer crowds, getting through MCO can sometimes feel like part of the vacation you didn’t ask for.
And we say that as locals.
But the airport knows it. And now, they’re trying to fix it.
The fix (yes,really)
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which is in charge of MCO and several smaller airports in the area, has recently begun partnering with Southeast Airport Services (SAS), an Orlando-based logistics company that’s been a Certified Small and Minority Business Enterprise for more than 30 years.
SAS already has years of experience at MCO, supplying baggage handlers, cleaning and maintenance staff, shuttle drivers, security guards, and more. This newest role is focused on supporting non-security TSA operations through a new checkpoint support program designed to keep lines moving.
“This effort augments that by allowing our TSA staff to focus on their expertise, which is security, leaving some of those supplemental functions, such as the redistribution of bins post-security or the divesting of items for screening, to this team,” said Marquez Griffin, Senior Vice President of Operations at GOAA, during a board meeting last month.
What these new staff” actually do
Officials say roughly 50 additional staff members will be contracted over the next five years. These workers, known as divesting agents, help guide passengers on what to remove from their bags before screening and keep plastic trays moving efficiently.
Their presence is expected to allow two additional checkpoint lanes to open at the airport’s east and west security areas (Terminals A and B, for those familiar with MCO).
A pilot version of this system—focused primarily on bin distribution—has been in place since June 2025. The new contract expands on that initial program.
Their goal is to get 80% of passengers through TSA in under 30 minutes.
Will it make a difference?
Will this completely fix MCO? Probably not.
But if it helps more passengers get through security in under 30 minutes—and cuts down on some of the chaos—that’s a pretty solid step in the right direction.
And at MCO, even small improvements can make a big difference.
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