How long are lines at the Sunport? What travelers can expect

As videos of long security lines and distressed passengers hit social media feeds this week, at the Albuquerque International Sunport, travelers were able to breeze through security.

Going through security at the Sunport took 15 minutes or less Wednesday, according to the MyTSA app, which tracks wait times across the country.

“It’s a relief,” said Jane Chipman, who traveled with her two young children Wednesday.  

Chipman, who used to live in Santa Fe, planned to fly to Seattle with her children after traveling around New Mexico. The relative quiet of the Sunport was a nice break from an otherwise busy experience in other airports.

“We waited three hours in Denver,” Chipman said. “I mean, it was fine — first world problems.”

This relative ease comes in stark contrast to panic across the country, as more than 480 Transportation Security Administration agents have quit and callouts have reached record rates at some airports, according to TSA’s acting agency head Ha Nguyen McNeill, who testified before Congress Wednesday.

Nguyen McNeill said the agency may consider shuttering some airports if the partial government shutdown does not end soon. 

Disagreements between Senate Democrats and Republicans about President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda and immigration enforcement spurred the partial government shutdown that now stretches into its fifth week. 

The shutdown has left TSA agents and thousands of other Department of Homeland Security staff unpaid.

As of Wednesday, all attempts to strike a deal to restore funding have failed as Trump resists any deal that doesn’t include his proposal to federalize the election process. Tensions are also rising in Congress as Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota threatens to keep lawmakers in Washington, D.C., over their planned Easter break unless a deal is reached.

But in Albuquerque, at least for now, travel is business as usual.

“The Sunport has not experienced staffing shortages related to TSA and checkpoint operations continue as normal,” said Aviation Department spokesperson Diana Lopez in a statement Tuesday.

In the midst of the partial government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security announced Sunday it would deploy up to 150 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to major travel hubs.

That hasn’t happened in Albuquerque, Lopez said, though “at some point in the future, that could change.”

But how has Albuquerque escaped the travel chaos enveloping the rest of the nation?

While the Aviation Department did not comment on TSA’s specific operations, including the number of employees — for security reasons — the answer likely lies in the Sunport’s smaller size.

The Sunport is classified as a “medium hub,” while airports experiencing the most turmoil, like those in Atlanta, Houston and New York City, are large international airports.

To put it into perspective, the Sunport reportedly had 5.5 million passengers pass through its terminals in 2025. At the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, more than 7.6 million passengers caught flights in February alone.

“While being a medium hub supports overall efficiency and manageability, it is just one of several factors contributing to our steady operations,” Lopez said. “The Sunport continues to operate normally, with airline and federal partners fully staffed and flights running as scheduled.”

The Sunport is also currently running a food drive for affected TSA agents and their families. To donate the public can bring nonperishables or $25 gas or gift cards to the third-floor aviation office at the Sunport. 

Representatives from TSA or the American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represents TSA agents in New Mexico, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Travel recommendations 

While the Sunport is operating as normal, Lopez said that late March is a busy time for travel in general as people flock to holiday destinations for spring break. 

For a smooth experience, Lopez recommended travelers arrive at least two hours before departure to budget extra time for parking, bag check and security. 

Lopez also suggested Albuquerque residents consider off-site parking lots with free shuttles or using ride-share services to save time hunting for parking. 

As always, travelers should review TSA guidelines and have their Real ID and boarding pass ready at security, Lopez added. 

Finally, Lopez said travelers should monitor airline apps for their flight status and plan ahead.

Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.