By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Holiday travels flying out of Lambert Airport in St. Louis will see stepped up security measures. But airport officials say those measures shouldn't cause unnecessary delays.
In response to the elevated national threat alert issued on Sunday, baggage screeners are being especially watchful, and airport police are patrolling with bomb sniffing dogs. Federal security director Bill Switzer says police will also conduct random vehicle searches.
"The chief of police has got a great group of people and professionals over there, and they're doing a very thorough job of checking all the vehicles," Switzer says. "The procedures are in place, it's sound, and people ought to feel very comfortable to be able to travel."
Officials are asking travelers not to send wrapped Christmas presents through X-ray machines, as screeners may have to unwrap them if the packages require a search.
"You shouldn't see too much of a delay," Switzer added. "These people are very efficient, very effective, they know what they're looking for, and they try to expedite it as much as possible. But again, security is at the top of their mind."
Switzer says passenger volume at the airport is slightly higher than last Christmas.