Travellers No Longer Required to Remove Shoes at U.S. Airports

United States — Travellers rushing through U.S. airports can now keep their shoes on during security screenings, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Tuesday.

The long-standing requirement — in place since 2006 after the infamous “shoe bomber” incident — is officially over, effective immediately nationwide.

Noem said a pilot programme proved that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has the technology to keep airports secure without requiring passengers to remove their shoes.

“I think most Americans will be very excited to see they will be able to keep their shoes on, and it will be a much more streamlined process,” Noem said.

However, she noted that some travellers may still be asked to remove their shoes if agents deem additional screening necessary.

Until now, only TSA PreCheck members — who pay about US$80 for five years of expedited service — could skip the shoe-removal step.

Noem also shared that TSA is reviewing other procedures to make the process faster and less stressful. Future pilots may include separate lanes for military personnel and families with young children.

The change comes more than two decades after Richard Reid attempted to bomb a flight from Paris to Miami in 2001, sparking the security rule that frustrated millions of passengers for years.