By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – If you are flying out of Chicago, officials recommend arriving at the airport three hours before your flight because of long security lines caused by an increase in travelers and a drop in the number of Transportation Security Administration agents.

Director of Central Illinois Regional Airport, Carl Olson, told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, you won’t have that problem flying out of Bloomington.

“We have the benefit of being at a facility our size, versus O’Hare or versus Atlanta or LaGuardia,” Olson said. “”They understand our security (needs). They are very professional, but they are also courteous and respectful. They are neighbors and they do a very fine job.”

Olson said the airport hasn’t had to add security screeners. Security delays have become a problem at many of the larger airports in the United States.

“I think a lot of times the frustration comes from the TSA decision makers in Washington in how they change plans and change ideas and it doesn’t always circulate down and that includes managing their budget,” Olson said.

Travelers at Central Illinois Regional Airport will soon have a new restaurant and gift shop past the security checkpoint. The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority has approved Tailwind’s move to near the departure gates.

“Typically you don’t see people now shopping at stores at airports our size before screening,” Olson said. “We are going to move that to the secure side.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].