Some frequent fliers on Delta and American airlines will be able to move through faster airport security lines at Reagan Washington National, New York's JFK, Chicago O'Hare and Salt Lake City by the end of next month.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that the Transportation Security Administration's "pre-check" security screening program that began last summer on a trial basis will expand to 35 airports by the end of the year.
The program -- in which passengers can often move more quickly through security lines if they give the government personal information beforehand -- is part of what Napolitano called the TSA's move to "risk-based" screening rather than imposing the same screening tactics on everyone.
"It's part of a fundamental shift in how we approach aviation security," Napolitano said. "Not all travelers are alike, and they don't all present the same risk."
The advantage to the pre-check program is that in return for divulging information about themselves, passengers qualify for special security lines at airports. In them, they're allowed to keep their shoes and belts on and their laptops in their cases at checkpoints.
"It allows us to spend more time on those we know the least about," TSA Administrator John Pistole said of the program. "The key is that we have done pre-screening before anyone ever gets to the checkpoint."
The program already is available to participating Delta and American passengers at seven airports: Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. More than 336,000 fliers have been screened through the program so far, TSA said.
Other airlines, including United, Continental and US Airways, are expected to join the program within months.
The TSA expansion by the end of the year will include Baltimore/Washington International, Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston's Bush, Honolulu, Indianapolis, New York's LaGuardia, St. Louis, New Orleans, Puerto Rico's Luis Muoz Marin, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Anchorage and Washington Dulles.
The expansion won quick praise from some groups that have urged the government to reassess its airport security and speed screening, especially for frequent business travelers.
"The expansion is something our members have been hoping for," said Michael McCormick, executive director of the Global Business Travel Association.
"As an association, faster, more efficient and smarter travel processes that ensure the traveling public's safety are our top priority and essential for business travelers."
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