Passengers flying through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in the coming days will find fewer security checkpoints open as the Transportation Security Administration consolidates passenger-screening operations.

Starting Thursday, March 19, the B and D security checkpoints in Terminal 4 at the Phoenix airport will be closed.

All travelers will be screened at the A and C checkpoints and then make their way to their gates from those entry points.

"Due to the configuration of the terminal, travelers will be able to get to any gate in Terminal 4 from either checkpoint. Operations in Terminal 3 remain unchanged," said Lorie Dankers, a spokeswoman for TSA.

In the wake of travel restrictions in an effort to contain the new coronavirus, Sky Harbor estimates it has seen a 30% decrease in passenger traffic compared to last year at a time when the airport should be experiencing its busiest crowds.

That's a significant decrease in the number of passengers TSA needs to screen.

For instance, on Friday, March 13, the agency screened 1.5 million passengers nationwide, down sharply from 2.4 million on the same day last year, according to TSA statistics.

TSA has not yet changed its staffing levels at Sky Harbor due to the crisis.

TSA to accept some expired licenses as ID

Meanwhile, if your drivers license is expired, don't worry. TSA is allowing some grace for those who haven't been able to get their licenses renewed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As of March 1, TSA started allowing people to use an expired license as identification at security checkpoints for one year after the expiration date. TSA plans to keep this policy in place until 60 days after the national emergency is lifted.

You can connect with Arizona Republic Consumer Travel Reporter Melissa Yeager at melissa.yeager@azcentral.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Support local journalism like this story by subscribing today.