Pre Check program to expand to busiest U.S. airports during 2012

Boston Logan

The TSA’s trusted traveler Pre Check program will expand to dozens more airports around the country in the coming months, including some of the busiest, such as Boston’s Logan, New York’s JFK and LaGuardia, Chicago’s O’Hare,  and Washington’s National and Dulles.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole unveiled on Feb. 8 a lengthy list of additional airports where the Pre Check passenger pre-screening program will expand in 2012 following the current pilot initiatives at seven airports.

TSA said it has screened more than 336,000 passengers to date through Pre Check lanes at airports in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami and Minneapolis.

TSA Pre Check currently operates with American Airlines at airports in Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Los Angeles, and with Delta Air Lines at airports in Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis. US Airways, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are all opting in new passengers and will begin operations later this year.

TSA said Pre Check will be implemented at the following airport locations throughout 2012:

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)

Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

Portland International Airport (PDX)

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

“Good, thoughtful, sensible security by its very nature facilitates lawful travel and legitimate commerce,” said Napolitano in a Feb. 8 joint statement with Pistole. “The expansion of TSA Pre Check to the nation’s busiest airports will increase our security capabilities and expedite the screening process for travelers we consider our trusted partners.”

“TSA Pre Check moves us closer to our goal of delivering the most effective and efficient screening by recognizing that most passengers do not pose a threat to security,” said Pistole. “We are pleased to expand this important effort, in collaboration with our airline and airport partners, as we move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more intelligence-driven, risk-based transportation security system.”