2 Security Checkpoints Closed At Philly International Airport

PHILADELPHIA ? Two security checkpoints at the Philadelphia International Airport are now temporarily closed.

According to Philadelphia International Airport officials, the Transportation Security Administration has temporarily closed Terminal A-West and Terminal F security checkpoints.

Officials said this measure was taken to help "optimize operations across other checkpoints" during the federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 due to partisan disagreements about federal spending levels, foreign aid rescissions, and health insurance subsidies.

TSA workers are among federal employees who are working without pay during the shutdown.

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Travelers can still access the A-West and F terminals, as travelers can access any gate from any open security checkpoint. Those who are flying out of A-West should use the A-East checkpoint. Anyone flying from Terminal F should use the D/E checkpoint.

Officials said the A-East checkpoint will be open at night. Terminal A-East will remain open until 10:15 p.m. to accommodate international travelers.

Philadelphia International Airport staff will be on-site to guide travelers to the nearest open checkpoint.

Additionally, the free American Airlines shuttle will continue running as usual, connecting A-West, A-East, B, C, and F.

Officials are recommending travelers arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights. Live TSA wait times and TSA Checkpoint hours at are available online here.

With the shutdown in its 35th day as of this publication, United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said some airspace around the country could be closed.

"You will see mass chaos, you will see mass delays, you will see mass cancellations, and you may see us closed certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it because we don't have air traffic controllers," he said at a news conference in Philadelphia Tuesday.

The Philadelphia International Airport is collecting donations to support its 1,700 federal workers. Those who wish to support the effort can learn more by emailing communications@phl.org.