Originally Posted by Mats
In many European airports, it's common to "shunt" passengers with very short connections. A bus or van meets the incoming aircraft, collects the passengers, and drives them to their next flight.
Here is my question: how do the airlines and airports permit these passengers to skip transit security?
I don't have a specific answer; however, I think it's a matter of leaving what is defined as the sterile area. Once you leave the sterile area, you must be re-screened. Therefore, if a passenger gets off an airplane and is driven directly to another airplane or gate without ever leaving the sterile area, then it is not necessary to be re-screened. Of course, there are specific exceptions for those originating airports that do not meet TSA standards for screening. This mostly applies to certain foreign airports.