Before the busiest period of the year is even upon us, America's airports and their passengers are facing unacceptable wait times to pass through security screening, regularly resulting in missed flights and a strain on facilities.

The issue was highlighted over Easter weekend when 29,900 passengers were processed on Good Friday at Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina. The airport's interim aviation director, Brent Cagle, bemoaned lines lasting up to three hours for passengers at TSA checks, many of whom missed their flights.

A spokesman for American Airlines, Casey Norton, also confirmed that customers at many airports "are waiting in TSA lines greater than one hour," adding: "Due to the length of the lines, hundreds of flights have been delayed."

With the busy summer travel period fast approaching, airports are in search of a solution to prevent chaos and problems for the millions of passengers who will be processed at TSA-manned security checks.

The delays are the result of various factors, making headlines on what was Charlotte's busiest day on record, but also as a result of heightened terrorist threats and an increase in passengers unfamiliar with the process who hold up the line.

Kevin Frederick, federal security director for Charlotte, told Forbes the Good Friday waits never approached three hours. "It was 75 minutes for a short period," he said, and that wait times typically average around 10 minutes.

However, the principal culprit appears to be staff shortages at the TSA. With a limit of 42,500 agents permitted to work at the nation's airports (some airports provide their own security personnel), the levels are 7 percent lower than in 2014 despite an increasing number of passengers — particularly in peak travel periods — year over year.

Combined with the extra threat level as a result of terrorist attacks in Europe — especially at Brussels Airport — requiring agents to perform more thorough checks, it is the perfect storm for frustrated airlines and airport managers who are held accountable by passengers.

As 6,800 American Airlines passengers missed their flights in one week during the busy spring break period, it is feared that America's airports will descend into chaos and be seen as a poor gateway to the country for millions of incoming tourists this summer.

This has led airports such as Seattle Tacoma to plan ahead. The airport is tackling the problem by hiring 90 private contractors and more K9 explosive-sniffer dogs to allow TSA agents to be freed up and open more lanes when passenger flow is at its busiest.

Meanwhile, Punta Gorda Airport in Florida has become the latest to turn its entire security screening over to private contractors in a bid to tackle the problem and save money, believing passengers would not even notice the shift.

The head of the TSA, Peter Neffenger, has acknowledged the problems but defends his organization in tackling unprecedented security risks and passenger numbers. He has asked for approval to hire more screeners, and says the TSA has stepped up training, turning out more than 200 new officers per week.

In the mean time, Neffenger's advice for passengers is to turn up extra early for their flights.