Congress closes security gap: regional airlines must meet TSA standards
H.R. 2353 — Safer Skies Act of 2025 · Filed by Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY) · 51 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 26, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires regional and charter airlines operating larger aircraft (more than 9 seats) to comply with the same federal security screening standards that major commercial carriers already follow. Currently, these smaller carriers are exempt from TSA's Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program. The bill gives TSA 360 days to update its rules to enforce this requirement across the board.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward expansion of existing federal security requirements to a previously exempt category of air carriers. It is a regulatory mandate, not a subsidy, carve-out, or deregulation.
What the text implies
- Regional and charter carriers may face significant compliance costs (crew background checks, passenger vetting systems, access controls), which could increase ticket prices or reduce service on less-profitable routes.
- The 360-day implementation window is tight for smaller operators; carriers lacking existing TSA-compliant infrastructure may need to contract with third-party security vendors or invest in new systems.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
aviation security technology vendors; third-party security service providers; background-check and vetting companies