Security at Miami’s airport should move much faster with upgraded TSA checkpoint
Travelers in one of the busiest parts of Miami International Airport are getting an early holiday gift.
TSA checkpoint 2, located in Concourse D near gates D22 to D25, is up and running again, and it’s faster than before. The upgraded TSA checkpoint 2 debuted Nov. 1 after having been closed since Sept. 2. With checkpoint 2 reopening, that means all TSA checkpoints are now functioning at MIA.
The area still has four passenger screening lanes, but each one now comes equipped with a state-of-the-art 3D computed tomography (CT) explosive detection scanner. That’s a machine that detects images at 360 degrees and is more precise.
MORE: Ready for a Thanksgiving travel crunch? How to navigate MIA and FLL like a pro
Each lane also now has a fully automated bin return conveyance system, which can screen 500 bins per hour. It moves carry-on bags into the CT machines while returning empty bins to the front of the line. The bins are about 25 percent larger than the previous ones, according to TSA officials, who along with MIA officials, showed checkpoint 2 to media on Tuesday.
If a bag contains something that might be a threat, it’s moved to a separate area to not slow down the progression of travelers.
The renovations cost about $5.5 million and are part of MIA’s larger $9 billion modernization plan currently underway, Ralph Cutié, CEO of MIA, told the Miami Herald on Tuesday.
Benefits to travelers?
TSA and MIA officials say the upgraded checkpoint 2 is processing passengers 30 percent faster because of the changes.
Due to the new technology and the larger bins, travelers no longer have to take out laptops or other electronic devices from carry-on bags. Travelers can also empty everything from their pockets into the same bin, although TSA advises travelers to put things like keys, phones and other small personal belongings in their bags rather than pockets to reduce the risk of losing them.
At the other end of security, travelers don’t have to return the bins or find the stack to place it on. It’s returned automatically.
“This cutting-edge checkpoint enhances both security and efficiency,” Stephen Taber, TSA Federal Security Director at Miami International Airport, said in a statement on Nov. 25.
On Tuesday when the Herald visited, the longest line at checkpoint 2 totaled about 25 people. But even that crowd quickly dissipated.
Average wait times at TSA checkpoints across MIA, between Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, ranged from 4 minutes, 10 seconds to 5 minutes, 12 seconds, according to data provided by MIA.
Future TSA checkpoint upgrades
The upgrades are at one of MIA’s busiest passenger checkpoints. Concourse D is home to American Airlines, which serves 31 million passengers annually at MIA and is by far the airport’s largest source of travelers.
MIA plans to temporarily close and upgrade checkpoint 6 in concourse F in September 2026. They eventually will upgrade all of their TSA checkpoints.
The reopening comes just in time to greet the holiday crowds, a relief after the stress of the 55-day government shutdown that caused chaos at airports throughout the country.
Luckily, MIA hasn’t experienced lasting negative effect from the recent government shutdown, said Cutié. MIA was able to weather the shutdown better than many other airports.
“I’m grateful that our TSA, CBP and air traffic controllers showed up to work,” during the shutdown, Cutié said on Tuesday. “We never had any sickouts.”
Meanwhile, the next step in MIA’s modernization is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 19. That’s when the new Flamingo Parking Garage extension with 2,240 spaces is expected to open to the public.
This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM.