The head of the Transportation Security Administration says significant progress has been made on shortening screening lines since earlier this spring when airlines reported thousands of frustrated passengers were missing flights.

Peter Neffenger told a Senate panel Tuesday that over the busy Memorial Day weekend, 99 percent of passengers at U.S. airports waited less than 30 minutes and more than 90 percent waited less than 15 minutes.

The agency says it is reducing lines by adding more lanes and increasing staffing, especially at seven of the nation’s busiest airports: John F. Kennedy in New York, Newark in New Jersey, O’Hare in Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles.

Neffenger said TSA also is exploring better screening technology that can speed up lines as much as 30 percent.

(AP)