Airports Authority Creates Screening Fast Lane

WASHINGTON -- A fast lane will be added to security screening lines at local airports thanks to a new national registration program approved by authorities Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority expects to have the Registered Traveler Program up and running at Ronald Reagan Washington National and Dulles International Airports by spring.

The program allows passengers to avoid security lines by gaining access to fast, private security lanes. Fliers who want to take part in the program pay a fee and pass a background check. Once approved, they are then given a special biometric card that gives them access to the pre-screened lanes at all participating airports.

"Registered traveler is currently operational in 13 locations and has 64,600 active cardholders," says Lauren Wolf, a spokesperson with the Transportation Security Administration. "The benefits for the traveler vary from airport configuration (meaning extra security lanes) to additional services depending on the service provider."

The program, in every case, is operated by a private company, not the airport. In most cases, the entire airport has Registered Traveler, but there are some instances where individual airlines are the only ones to provide the service. Whether the system approved for Reagan National and Dulles will be airport-wide or carrier-specific has not been announced.

By unanimous vote, MWAA awarded the contract to Verified Identity Pass. Inc. for both airports. Once the program has been implemented both regular and registered passengers will likely experience an overall speedier screening process.

Airports that currently have Registered Traveler:

• Albany, N.Y.
• Cincinnati
• Indianapolis
• Newark
• Orlando
• San Jose, Calif.
• West Chester County, N.Y.
• San Francisco
• Little Rock, Ark.
• New York-JFK
• New York-LaGuardia
• Jacksonville, Fla.
• Reno, Nev.

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