Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Private Screening Could Solve TSA Theft Issues

May 9, 2012, 1:36pm

Baruch Feigenbaum

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is hiring screeners without adequately checking their backgrounds. While devolving screening to private companies could solve this and other problems, TSA leadership remains opposed to private involvement.

Airport Policy and Security Newsletter #79

Privatized cargo airport, passenger record sharing and potential high-speed rail competition for aviation

May 8, 2012

Robert Poole

• Airglades proposes privatized cargo airport
• E.U. finally OKs passenger record sharing
• Airport privatization news from Europe
• Potential high-speed rail competition for aviation
• TSA making progress with PreCheck
• Assessing Kip Hawley’s new book
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

 

Privatization of Airports, Air Traffic Control and Airport Security

Aviation Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2011

May 1, 2012

Robert Poole

This section of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2011 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest news on domestic and international airport privatization and the privatization of airport security. Topics include:

• In the aftermath of the credit markets crunch of 2008–2009, the airport market continued its recovery in 2011, with efforts including Puerto Rico's current plan to privatize San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Chicago's continued interest in a potential Midway Airport lease.
• A total of 48% of European air passengers were handled by partly or fully privatized airports in 2011, with that share likely to grow with impending privatization initiatives in Spain and Greece.
• Amid public outrage over TSA’s introduction of body scanners and aggressive pat-downs, the administration and Congress continued to battle over proposals to allow airports to opt-out of TSA security and hire private screeners. However, some progress was made in Washington D.C. over reviving the trusted traveler program, advancing a more risk-based approach to security.
• Since 1990, 51 governments have commercialized their air traffic control systems, separating the air traffic control functions from regulatory bodies, removing them from civil service, and making them self-supporting from fees charged to aircraft operators. However, there was no significant progress in 2011 toward commercializing air traffic control in the United States.
• Other more news on domestic and international airport privatization and air traffic control commercialization.

Annual Privatization Report 2011

Privatization trends in local, state and federal government, plus roads, highways, aviation, education and telecom

May 1, 2012

Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny

Now in its 25th year of publication, Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report is the world's longest running and most comprehensive report on privatization news, developments and trends.

Annual Privatization Report 2011 (APR 2011) details the latest on privatization and government reform initiatives at all levels of government. The individual sections of APR 2011 include:

• Federal Privatization
• State Privatization
• Local Privatization
• Air Transportation
• Surface Transportation
• Education
• Telecommunications
• Corrections and Public Safety

The Year 2011 in Surface Transportation and Aviation Privatization

April 26, 2012, 10:53am

Baruch Feigenbaum

The rollout of Reason Foundation’s Annual Privatization Report 2011 continues today with the release of the Surface and Transportation and Aviation Privatization sections authored by Reason’s Bob Poole. The Surface Transportation section provides a comprehensive overview of the latest Reason Foundation’s Annual Privatization Report 2011 provide an overview of the latest on toll roads, HOT lanes and other news on privatization and public-private partnerships in surface transportation. The Aviation section provides a comprehensive overview on the latest news on domestic and international airport privatization and privatization of airport security.

Airport Policy and Security Newsletter #78

Airports as deregulation victims? Airport privatization, body scanners and TSA PreCheck still needs work

April 3, 2012

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• Airports as deregulation victims?
• TSA PreCheck still needs work
• Should Canadian airports purchase their freedom?
• Air war in Houston
• More critics assail body scanners
• Airport privatization in Europe
• Upcoming Conferences
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

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