Image Credentials: Image Title: Security Stand-Down: TSA Begins Withdrawal from Salem-Willamette Valley Airport Source: (sora.openai) Date: January 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle News Desk | January 2, 2026
SALEM, OR — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has officially begun the process of deregulating Salem-Willamette Valley Airport (McNary Field), effectively ending federal security oversight at Oregon’s capital city airport. The move follows a months-long drought in commercial air service, leaving the facility’s newly upgraded terminal largely empty.
According to reports from the Salem Reporter, the TSA is expected to remove sensitive security infrastructure, including baggage scanners, body scanners, X-ray machines, and metal detectors.
The “Avelo Aftermath”
The departure of the TSA is the latest blow to Salem’s efforts to maintain a commercial aviation footprint. The airport has been without scheduled flights since August 2025, when the ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines abruptly terminated its operations in the city.
Avelo’s exit from Salem was part of a broader strategic shift in which the airline shuttered its entire West Coast network. Despite a brief period of high hopes and terminal renovations, Salem-Willamette Valley Airport now faces a “de-federalized” status that could take months to reverse.
The Road to “Re-Federalization”
While the City of Salem remains the owner of the airport, the loss of TSA staff creates a significant bureaucratic hurdle for any future airline partner. City officials noted that if a new carrier were to sign on today, the process of “re-federalizing”, bringing back federal agents and re-installing and certifying equipment, could take “weeks or even months.”
To sweeten the deal for potential carriers, Salem officials successfully pooled $1.5 million late last year to fund a Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG). This financial safety net is designed to mitigate the risk for an airline entering the Salem market, yet no carrier has stepped forward to claim the incentive.
Impact on Infrastructure
| Equipment/Service | Current Status | Impact of TSA Exit |
| Baggage Scanners | Active/Stored | Likely Removal for use at other hubs |
| Body Scanners | Active/Stored | Decommissioning and removal |
| Checkpoint Staff | Relocated | Full withdrawal of federal screeners |
| Security Regulation | Terminated | Airport no longer meets commercial boarding standards |
The Future of McNary Field
The city’s public works department remains optimistic that commercial service will return, citing the $1.5 million incentive as a strong lure. However, aviation analysts suggest that the “West Coast vacuum” left by Avelo’s retreat has made small-market airports like Salem a hard sell in the current economic climate. For now, McNary Field will continue to serve general aviation and private flights, but the silent terminals and missing X-ray machines serve as a stark reminder of the city’s struggle to stay connected to the national grid.