Registered Traveler Trials To Start

BoeingBoy

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Nov 9, 2003
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Aviation Daily

TSA Starts Registered Traveler Pilot; 10,000 To Participate
By Adrian Schofield
07/08/2004 09:55:48 AM

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday began its registered traveler pilot program with Northwest at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, and TSA officials said about 2,000 passengers will participate at each of five airports this summer.

Passengers enrolled in the program will use a designated security lane, so screening wait times are likely to be much shorter. In addition, they will go through only the primary screening process and will not be randomly selected for more thorough secondary screening, as other passengers are.

Registered travelers will be identified through fingerprints or iris scans. TSA conducted a security check on each volunteer for the program. Northwest invited its platinum elite level frequent flyers to enroll in June.

Los Angeles, Houston Intercontinental, Boston and Washington National airports also will take part in the trial (DAILY, June 17). The program will run for 90 days at each airport.

TSA will decide whether to introduce the program nationwide based on the results of the pilot program. An agency spokesman told The DAILY that the program will be judged on cost and benefits to participating passengers. The agency will take into account the reactions of passengers in the special lanes, and those in the regular lanes.

Jim