DIA Shoes can now stay on through security

Denver International Airport (DIA) has announced that travelers can now keep their shoes on during security screenings, a significant shift as this policy does not require TSA PreCheck. This change follows an announcement by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who declared the lifting of the shoe removal requirement nationwide. DIA expects this new policy to create efficiencies and decrease the time passengers spend in security lines. Other airports in Colorado, such as those in Colorado Springs, are also adopting this policy. The shoe removal rule had been in effect since 2006, established after a failed al-Qaeda bombing attempt involving footwear.

This marks the first time in 19 years that general passengers can bypass this requirement. Currently, wait times at DIA hover just under four minutes at the West Security Checkpoint and about ten minutes at the South Security Checkpoint. The airport is closely monitoring how much this policy change will impact security line times.