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Travel advocates applaud expansion of TSA ‘Pre-Check’ program
The U.S. Travel Association is praising the Transportation Security Airport (TSA) for expanding the reach of its “Pre-Check” known traveler program to its 35th airport.
The TSA’s Pre-Check program allows passengers to volunteer information to the agency in exchange for the possibility of receiving expedited screening. The program is part of the agency's move to "risk-based" security techniques, which TSA official say will streamline airport security processes.
Travel Association President Roger Dow said TSA’s recent announcement that the Pre-Check program would be launched at Detroit’s John Wayne Airport marked a milestone in its availability to airline passengers.
“Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole deserve our thanks for their commitment to expanding the Pre-Check trusted traveler program and reaching their goal of 35 participating airports by year's end,” Dow said in a statement. “Air travel continues to be the gateway to commerce and improving efficiency while maintaining the current high level of security is a win-win for travelers and the American economy.”
Dow said it was important that the expansion of the program is continued.
"The volume of U.S. air travel is expected to double in 20 years,” he said. “This forecast, combined with rapidly rising costs to screen passengers, underscores the need to expand trusted traveler programs such as Pre-Check, especially as our nation moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more intelligence-driven, risk-based transportation security system.
"With two million travelers flying daily, Pre-Check can only succeed if participation is greatly expanded beyond the five million passengers that have currently been screened,” Dow continued. “We are encouraged by recent news that TSA is exploring new methods to expand usage of the program."
