R.G. Edmonson, Associate Editor | Oct 07, 2011 6:04PM EDT
The Transportation Security Administration will not meet its Dec. 31 deadline to screen all cargo on international passenger flights, the agency told industry stakeholders.
Brandon Fried, president of the Air Forwarders Association, said that TSA earlier this week sent a letter through its confidential information network about the delay in 100 percent screening, but gave no reason why.
Responding to the two attempted terrorist bombings of two airplanes in October 2010, TSA in January announced an accelerated schedule to complete a network of international agreements to scan all U.S.-bound cargo.
Fried said that it was apparently a too ambitious goal. However, TSA officials told him that they will very soon have agreements with nations that ship more than 90 percent of air cargo to the U.S.
--Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com
