The Transportation Security Administration has begun phasing out its requirement that airline passengers remove their shoes at standard security checkpoints, reversing a practice that has been in place since 2006. According to an internal memo sent to officers last week and reported by ABC, the change took effect on 7 July and is already in force at several major airports. Sources familiar with the rollout told CBS, NBC and other outlets that the first hubs dropping the mandate include Baltimore/Washington International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Portland, Philadelphia and Piedmont Triad. Travellers passing through Los Angeles International and New York’s LaGuardia also reported keeping their shoes on, suggesting the policy is spreading quickly. The TSA intends to extend the measure to all U.S. airports, while passengers who set off scanners will still be asked to remove footwear for further inspection. A TSA spokesperson said the agency and the Department of Homeland Security "are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture," pointing to advances in screening technology that can detect concealed items without requiring shoes to be taken off. Eliminating the step is expected to shorten lines and reduce one of the most common traveller complaints. The shoes-off rule was adopted nationwide nearly two decades ago, five years after British national Richard Reid tried and failed to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on a 2001 Paris–Miami flight. While members of the paid TSA PreCheck programme have long been allowed to keep their shoes on, the new policy extends that convenience to the general travelling public.