(Undated) — Passengers at Missouri airports no longer have to remove their shoes at security checkpoints. Transportation Security Administration Regional Spokesman Carter Langston says passengers the change should result in shorter wait times at security checkpoints.

Langston says there will still be random, extra screening at times and some customers may still be asked to remove shoes. TSA says the nearly 20-year-old policy change was no longer needed due to screening technology improvements.  

“We’ve now got secure flight vetting, which allows our officers to know who is coming to fly on, what aircraft really days prior to the day they’re even arriving at the airport,” said Langston.

The policy went into effect in 2006 after a passenger attempted to detonate an explosive hidden in his shoe.
Langston reminds travelers to continue to review the list of prohibited items in carry on luggage at www.tsa.gov.