I picked a mid-size airport thinking it would be easier to reason about than JFK or LAX, which in hindsight was probably the right call.
Choose a well-known airport (e.g., SFO) and break down the daily passenger volume into departing and connecting passengers, then estimate the proportion that passes through metal detectors (security checkpoints). Use round numbers and state assumptions clearly, focusing on logical structure over precise accuracy.
Pro tip: Mention that you're assuming normal operations and that TSA checkpoint throughput varies by time of day; this shows awareness of real-world variability and that you can prioritize key drivers.
Pick a major airport you know (e.g., SFO) and state its approximate annual passenger volume. Assume a typical day with no major disruptions.
Divide annual passengers by 365 to get daily total. Assume roughly half are originating (start their journey) and half are terminating, so originating passengers ≈ daily total / 2.
Estimate the percentage of passengers who are connecting (e.g., 20-30% at a hub). These passengers also go through security if they arrive from another flight, but many may not re-clear security. Clarify your assumption: typically, connecting passengers do not pass through metal detectors again unless transferring from international or a different terminal.
Multiply originating passengers by the fraction that go through security (assume 100% of originating passengers). Add any connecting passengers who must re-clear security (e.g., international transfers). This gives total daily metal detector throughput.
Compare your estimate to known TSA throughput rates (e.g., ~200-300 passengers per lane per hour) and number of lanes to see if it's reasonable. Adjust assumptions if needed.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.