Richmond airport expects to allow shoes on through security soon

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The end of shoes off at TSA could be coming soon. Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Richmond International Airport is “optimistic” it will soon be one of the airports letting travelers keep their shoes on through TSA checkpoints, a spokesperson tells Axios.

Why it matters: Americans have been going sock-footed (or, worse, barefoot) through TSA for nearly 20 years.

And still, decades later, many travelers are super slow about it.

State of play: The shoes-on change hasn’t been formally announced, but TSA launched new procedures this week at some airports that let all travelers keep them on through security, per the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

While Richmond’s airport hasn’t been told yet if they’re included, they’re “optimistic” it will soon be “one of the ‘keep your shoes on’ airports,” RIC spokesperson Troy Bell tells Axios.
He thinks the official change for RIC could come within the next week or two, he added.

What TSA is saying: “Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement to Axios when asked about the pending change for Richmond.

What we’re watching: If some flexibility on shampoo and haircare liquids will follow, at least for the frizz-sufferers.