JWA gets $8.8M for screening system

The Transportation Security Administration has awarded John Wayne Airport an $8.8-million grant to equip the future Terminal C with a baggage handling and screening system for check-in luggage, airport officials said in a news release Friday.

The grant will allow the airport to purchase technology to scan bags for dangerous materials, such as explosives, airport officials said. The in-line baggage handling system should be up and running by late 2011, they said.

They said the technology will screen bags for explosives while keeping the ticketing and boarding process as efficient as possible, airport officials said. It will allow passengers not to have to tote their checked-in bags for screening elsewhere at the airport.

John Wayne Airport serves about 9 million passengers a year.

— Joseph Serna