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American Airlines has responded by bringing in extra staff to help out at its major hubs including Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Ross Feinstein, a spokesman with the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier, told the CBJ that American Airlines Group (NYSE:AAL) is footing the bill in contracting personnel to assist U.S. Transportation Security Administration agents with "non-screening" functions at CLT and its major hubs, such as in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles and New York's JFK Airport. Similar to a recent move by Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc., American is trying to "alleviate" long waits at TSA stations and offer a "temporary solution" to frustrated customers, Feinstein said.

American's contracted workers are helping TSA officers with non-essential duties, such as pushing bins and telling passengers to remove products from their bags, in an effort to open up additional lines that are not currently being properly utilized, Feinstein said.

"It's not a final solution," said Feinstein, adding the move is not necessarily going to shorten lines. Feinstein stressed the overall need for more TSA screeners, especially as airports prepare for the peak summer travel season. A former TSA spokesman, Feinstein has previously called nationwide TSA checkpoint lines "unacceptable."

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