Over the summer, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said that they weren’t going to make public charter operators fly out of commercial terminals, but that they would update security plans. They’ve done this – and will require new screening procedures at private terminals for ‘by the seat’ charter operators like JSX.
Currently JSX matches every passenger against government targeting databases, swabs every carry-on, and sends passengers through a a weapons detector.
Under changes to TSA’s Twelve Five Standard Security Program, they will be required to screen all passengers and belongings that will enter the cabin using TSA-approved equipment.
- Part 135 carter operators selling individual seats under part 380 will continue to be permitted to operate out of private terminals. Security will not be done by TSA screeners. However, TSA confirms that liquid rules will be imposed.
- Ordered changes reportedly start in six months. However many FBOs will require changes to their space to accommodate new screening equipment at exits onto the tarmac. That will require permits and construction likely to take longer than six months. I’ve asked TSA whether their timeline will take this into account.
- At many FBOs, where small operators rent space, they may not be able to make these adjustments and may have to cease service.
Security Checkpoint At Austin Airport
A TSA spokesperson tells me,
TSA is aware of an increase in the number of airlines operating public charter flights between locations without a requirement for TSA approved screening. Following a security risk assessment, which considered the operations, existing security measures, and other relevant details, TSA issued a new requirement that all public charter operators screen passengers in accordance with the Persons and Accessible Property (PAP) screening requirements when they are conducting public charter operations. The PAP screening protocol is required of other charter programs utilizing similar aircraft.
To accommodate the new requirement, TSA worked collaboratively with the impacted operators and is providing them an implementation timeline to train staff, procure equipment, and engage affected airports on any new requirements for flights.
Former American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker says that the TSA effort was launched at his behest, with the assistance of Southwest Airlines COO Andrew Watterson. The two approached Administrator Pekoske, seeking to have the agency go after their small fellow Dallas-based competitor. And indeed, American’s current CEO Robert Isom says that their lobbying efforts on the issue are aimed at placing restrictions on a competitor.
Both American and Southwest offer charters that continue to be exempt from TSA screening and these newly-announced changes will not affect those. Additional screening will be required for their competitors only. And there’s no real security benefit, since the rules do not apply to the more than 4 million private flights in the U.S. each year, either.
This is going to be a new cost for operators like JSX, and a new hassle for passengers. The major aim wasn’t accomplished – JSX and others can continue to operate, and continue to do so out of private terminals. However the more modest aim of reducing the convenience of their service slightly was accomplished, and in the last days of the current administration. The FAA Administrator, though, had said he planned a crackdown on Part 135/380 operations and that new rules would be published prior to the end of 2024. That didn’t happen. And the FAA head himself steps down in three days.
I’ve reached out to JSX for comment, and will update if they respond. Update: A JSX spokesperson offers,
JSX fully supports and cooperates with TSA in implementing security measures applicable to public charter flights. JSX is proud of its outstanding security record and has modeled an industry-leading approach to aviation security for nearly eight years, having voluntarily invested millions of dollars into its comprehensive security program since inception.
I infer from this that TSA may be requiring things that JSX already does (as I’ve written in the past that I expected), and that the carrier will be in a position in many cases to acquire and deploy the equipment that will be required in the spaces where they operate. It will mean added cost and customer hassle, but more manageable than the blow that Doug Parker and Andrew Watterson had hoped to inflict.
Shades of the Wright Amendment. AA has a history of using their clout with the government to thwart competition. Oh, and make sure AA is exempt from the very restrictions you are asking the FAA to impose on your competitors.
Wow, American Airlines is disgustingly unethical in this, going after JSX when they offer charters which are exempt from the very same regulations they wish to impose on JSX. Well, there’s a new sheriff in town, this is by no means over.
Doesn’t trump want the ceo of jsx to be the head of the faa?
Great detail and info Gary!
I’ll drink to that!
@David, I’d forgotten about that rumor. According to the Wall Street Journal 3 days ago, “Incoming Trump administration officials are expected to name Chris Rocheleau as deputy FAA administrator as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter”. They went on to say: “Aviation industry officials said Rocheleau (formerly with the FAA) would be a steady hand for an agency that has lacked stability in its senior ranks in recent years”. He would be expected to lead the FAA as an interim, until they figure it out (he could end up being the head too).
The TSA works for the major airlines.
Good. Security should be the same for all flights
As bad as this sounds, it’s not as onerous as what former Chicago Mayor Rich Daley wanted at ORD and MDW.
He wanted all passengers screened, whether a 747 or a Cessna 172. If a Piper 4-seater were to land at MDW to refuel at an FBO, Mayor Daley wanted the passengers to get out and get screened.
So, if the Chicago Bears are leaving for a road game, or the Lions are heading back to Detroit after beating the Bears, the players, coaches, and other passengers on the charter need to be screened.
There is a reason why pilots, whether commercial or private, disliked Rich Daley.
So I know it’s classified but does anyone know realistically what this means ? What will flying jsx be like now? Just like going through the main terminal at tsa or something else ? Any ideas ??
“Both American and Southwest offer charters that continue to be exempt from TSA screening and these newly-announced changes will not affect those.”
That guts the “equal treatment for all” and “same security for all” facade.
Oh! I know this one!
What is ‘regulatory capture’
*ding ding ding*
Monday is coming
This is so wrong. It’s called competition. The big guys tried the same thing when Sir Richard was starting Virgin America. Compete and not hinder Innovation and new ideas. The people who are looking to put handcuffs on JSX and others should look at their own operations instead of targeting companies that are innovating and changing how we can fly.
Security should be the same for all flights
I agree with Tk. This was a good decision and lets JSX operate but holds them to the same security standards as 121 operators.
TK & Pitt- STFU AA shills.
Doug Parker and the other major airline CEOs should concentrate on improving their lousy service instead of targeting much smaller competitors. Let’s face it, airlines are an oligopoly and despite their claims to the contrary they collude on everything. We last flew American in First from PHX-MIA – GEO and return and all four segments were very poor compared to the Mid-East and Asian carriers. To boot the Admirals lounges are pathetic.
Statistics show American Airlines currently is only 75% on time, currently only above the three USA cheap–but-trash airlines that one would expect to see at the bottom. I just posted to them on X about it, with a screenshot of that chart. We used to be Executive Platinum, essentially golden handcuffed to AA. But now we only fly them to burn 1M+ points.
SO they SUCK and their competitive strategy is to try and throw a fantastic airline JSX under the bus to try and keep theirs alive. I’m posting this article to x, tagging AA, and letting them know I am even more vigilant about avoiding them and spreading the word. Absolutely no respect for dirty play like this when they have so much to clean up in their own damn backyard.
JSX functions much like an airline, even if there is a convoluted structure that keeps them (legally) outside the current regulations for 121 carriers. It is a nice experience but not private aviation in the same way that a corporate flight department or private jet operator like NetJets is.
The only thing I came here to say is that the enhanced TSA/Screening situation is still not going to be like going to Newark at 6:30am. They are screening for 30 passenger flights on the FBO side of the airport. If you look at small airports like Vero Beach, FL serving Breeze Airways A220 flights, they have a pretty small footprint for screening that would fit nicely in a lot of FBOs. I haven’t been everywhere JSX operates out of but I think this change is not out of reach and I’m generally okay with having airline-like screening on airline-like flights.
The charter loophole for AA and WN is the definition of “arbitrary and capricious”.
I hope JSX takes the bureaucracy to court.
It seems that everyone on here is trying to get everything for free or little cost at the airlines expense.
Maybe you should all look at yourselves First at how cheap you are, and trying to get the airlines to pay from everything.
This site is full of cheap narcissistic people,
Every single commenter replying to this story got it wrong. They didn’t read the story correctly. AA and WN are not exempt for charters vs JSX. They are all still on the same playing field.
The article says “by the seat” charters require this new screening method. (If you buy a seat on a so called charter) This means that if JSX does a charter for a small sports team they will be exempt from this new security measure like all the other big airlines. And if American decided to do a “by the seat purchase” charter they would also be required to follow screening at least on the level applied to JSX.
And ther is always some for of security for big charters, but not in the way we are all used to. Can’t discuss that here.
Not saying what AA and WN did was not wrong. It was kind of scummy but they didn’t succeed in the end. JSX will figure out how to buy this or lease this equipment and life will go on.
Why is a person flying on a JSX EMB-145 less safe than one flying on a Commuteair EMB-145?
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-inauguration-president-2025/card/tsa-administrator-ousted-as-new-administration-begins-Z3ywx3aaUCy5xBavgo67
Grab some popcorn
Is ys tsa screening actually any safer than what jsx was doing until now? Should they just lower the standard across the board, even for commercial flights?
This is BS. The big guys trying to prevent competition. I hope Trump appoints Alex Wilcox to head FAA. This is totally wrong especially when Americans Charter flights will not have to abide by this.
Compete against JSX instead of trying to put them out of business. Very lame ploy by American
womp womp, oh no they have to actually follow rules and stop trying to use loopholes. if you wanna act like an airline, you gotta follow the same rules. this author needs to stop crying.
This executive order signed by trump Monday makes this TSA ruling moot for at least 60 days now (and probably will go away now)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/regulatory-freeze-pending-review/
@David, actually (1) the rule doesn’t go into effect for 6 months anyway, and (2) that executive order doesn’t affect this rule in any case as best I can tell.
TSA procedures that are classified as Sensitive Security Information are not published in the Federal Register (and are protected under 49 U.S.C. § 44901).