The Idaho Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has garnered one of the most coveted awards the national TSA bestows upon an airport operation by being named Airport of the Year.

The Idaho TSA operation includes Boise, Twin Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Sun Valley. All six airports are included in receiving this award.

In winning this honor, the Idaho TSA operation competed with over 400 other TSA operations, including the airport operations such as Portland, San Jose and Salt Lake City.

This award “addresses the many things that the men and women of TSA do very well each and every day at the airports all across Idaho,” said Andrew Coose, federal security director for the Idaho TSA. “This award recognizes the airport that exhibits exceptional internal as well as external customer service. Courtesy and attention to detail with respect to passengers, customers and all other stakeholders are its hallmark.”

This year the Magic Valley Regional Airport staff and Sky West also got a partnership award for working well together. Last year the staffs for both Magic Valley Regional Airport and the Twin Falls Police Department received the state partnership award.

“Doing the work of airport security is a difficult job. There is no varnishing that,” Coose said. “These people are our last line of defense.”