Charlotte airport issues new security policy for workers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport will soon require workers to keep personal items in clear bags. It will be one of the first airports in the country to implement such a policy, officials said.

[DOCUMENT: Clear personal bag policy]

Beginning Feb. 1, the airport will require approximately 9,000 workers to follow the policy.

Airport officials said the change was made proactively for security reasons.

"CLT, TSA and the airlines began working on this policy in 2016 to strengthen security, particularly in the secured and sterile areas, while balancing the need for employees to carry personal items," said Lee Davis, a spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The airport purchased 9,000 clear backpacks for current workers to use. It cost approximately $72,000, according to airport officials.

The policy applies to airline employees working in the terminal, concessionaire employees, aviation department employees and others.

An airport spokesperson told Channel 9 that there were no incidents that sparked the policy.

Other airports have dealt with security problems. In 2014, federal investigators accused two people tied to Delta of smuggling guns through Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta.

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