TSA One Stop Security Starts on Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta

Published on Aug 29, 2025, 2:18 pm CDT

5 min read

The Transportation Security Administration has launched a limited One Stop Security pilot, starting in July with two London Heathrow Airport flights bound for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The trial removes the second TSA checkpoint for eligible travelers connecting in the United States after clearing Customs and Border Protection, with checked bags transferred automatically. TSA says the program enhances security by recognizing equivalent screening overseas while improving the passenger experience. American Airlines is operating the Dallas Fort Worth trial, and Delta Air Lines is participating at Atlanta. TSA formally announced the program on August 27, 2025.

Key Points

Why it matters: Faster U.S. connections, fewer missed flights, and less congestion at security checkpoints.
Travel impact: No TSA rescreening for eligible arrivals from London Heathrow on select American and Delta flights.
What's next: TSA plans further assessments before expanding to additional airports and routes.
Initial routes: LHR to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and LHR to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Baggage handling: Checked bags move directly to the onward flight without another screening.

Snapshot

Under One Stop Security, passengers arriving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on designated flights connect at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) without entering a domestic security line a second time. After CBP inspection, travelers re-enter the sterile area and proceed to their gates, while checked baggage is transferred automatically. TSA describes the pilot as a congressionally authorized operational assessment that began in July, with a national press release issued on August 27, 2025. American Airlines became the first U.S. airline to implement the process at DFW, noting projected time savings of more than half for many connections. Delta is participating on its Heathrow to Atlanta service.

Background

The concept of One Stop Security, often called recognition of equivalence, allows countries to accept each other's aviation security measures when they are deemed commensurate. The International Civil Aviation Organization has long encouraged such agreements to eliminate duplicate screening that can delay passengers, increase costs, and complicate baggage flows. In this U.S. pilot, TSA, CBP, and the United Kingdom's Department for Transport aligned procedures for specific London Heathrow departures, then validated screening, baggage, and identity controls to U.S. standards. The Dallas Fort Worth deployment launched with American Airlines in late July 2025, followed by Delta's participation at Atlanta. TSA says the pilot is designed to test service, security outcomes, and operations before any broader rollout.

Latest Developments

DFW is the first U.S. hub to implement the pilot

American Airlines launched One Stop Security at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) following coordination with TSA, CBP, and the U.K. Department for Transport. For the airline's LHR to DFW operation, American says the streamlined flow cuts typical connection times by more than half since customers no longer reclaim and recheck baggage or queue for TSA again. The carrier also credits technology partners with integrating identity, screening, and baggage data to support compliance. TSA's national announcement on August 27 confirms DFW as one of two initial U.S. destinations in the operational assessment that began in July. TSA frames the effort as both a customer-experience upgrade and a security enhancement due to commensurate screening standards at the foreign departure point.

Atlanta participates via Delta's Heathrow service

Delta Air Lines is participating at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for its London Heathrow arrivals, making Atlanta the second U.S. hub in the test. TSA's press release lists the LHR to ATL flight alongside LHR to DFW as the two routes covered by the pilot's initial phase. Trade coverage indicates the Atlanta deployment would allow eligible connecting travelers to proceed directly to their gates after CBP inspection, while their checked luggage is automatically transferred to the onward flight. The Atlanta participation gives TSA a larger operational sample across two high-volume hubs serving diverse domestic banks, which will be critical for assessing throughput, staffing, and baggage performance before any expansion.

Analysis

For travelers, One Stop Security addresses a persistent pain point on U.S.-bound connections, namely the time and uncertainty of reclaiming luggage, rechecking it, and passing through TSA again. Eliminating those steps can reduce missed connections, shrink minimum connection times, and free capacity at TSA checkpoints. For airlines and airports, the value proposition includes more reliable bank structures, better use of scarce checkpoint labor, and a cleaner sort for baggage systems. The program's security case rests on equivalency, meaning the foreign airport must meet standards commensurate with TSA. That requires rigorous validation, data-sharing, and consistent performance, which is why the initial scope is narrow. If the pilot proves out, logical next candidates include other high-volume U.S. hubs with deep transatlantic ties, plus additional Heathrow flights or other vetted European gateways. Successful expansion will also depend on baggage transfer reliability, digital identity interoperability, and CBP processing capacity at the gate or in near-gate facilities. In short, the pilot is a meaningful first step toward modernized international connections, but scale will hinge on sustained security assurance and operational discipline.

Final Thoughts

The limited Heathrow to DFW and Heathrow to ATL trials will test whether time savings, smoother flows, and equivalent security can coexist at scale. If the results hold, broader adoption could reshape how international to domestic transfers work at major hubs, especially during peak banks and irregular operations. For now, travelers on the eligible flights can expect faster connections and fewer touchpoints while TSA, CBP, and airline partners measure outcomes. The next phase will show whether the industry is ready to expand one stop security.