October 24, 2013
WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has expanded its popular TSA Pre✓™ operations to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (ICT). Passengers traveling on American, Delta, and United Airlines who are eligible for TSA Pre✓™ may now receive expedited screening benefits at the checkpoint. Southwest will join the program on November 13, 2013.
TSA Pre✓™ is an expedited screening program that allows pre-approved travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer TSA Pre✓™ to our eligible passengers here at Wichita,” said TSA Federal Security Director Keith Osborn. “This program is another example of how TSA continues to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to transportation security, enabling us to provide the most effective security in the most efficient way possible.”
Passengers who are eligible for TSA Pre✓™ include U.S. citizens of frequent traveler programs invited by participating airlines, U.S. citizens who are members of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program, Canadian citizens who are members of CBP’s NEXUS program and passengers traveling on a participating airline who TSA proactively prescreens using its Secure Flight system. Later this year TSA will launch an application program, allowing more U.S. citizens to enroll in TSA Pre✓™.
More than 18 million passengers have experienced TSA Pre✓™ since it launched in October 2011. TSA Pre✓™ is currently available at 97 airports, with six additional airports being added by the end of the year. Travelers can check for information on locations and hours of active TSA Pre✓™ lanes at www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/tsa-precheck-participating-airports.
Eligible passengers traveling on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America may receive expedited screening benefits. JetBlue and Southwest are expected to begin participating when operationally ready.
TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. TSA’s multi-layered approach to security also includes behavior detection officers, explosives-detection systems, canine teams, and federal air marshals, among other measures both seen and unseen.
For more information about TSA’s risk-based security initiative, visit www.tsa.gov.
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the wake of September 11, 2001, to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce. Today, TSA secures the nation’s airports and screens all commercial airline passengers and baggage. TSA uses a risk-based strategy and works closely with transportation, law enforcement and intelligence communities to set the standard for excellence in transportation security. TSA’s workforce comprises approximately 50,000 frontline officers who screen approximately 1.8 million travelers each day at more than 450 airports nationwide. For more information about TSA, please visit our website at www.tsa.gov.
