Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre application program said recently that the program has broken the over 2 million-traveler mark in total membership.
TSA Pre is an accelerated screening program that allows low-risk travelers who already have been identified to have a faster, more-efficient screening process at the airport. First established in 2013, TSA Pre has over 350 application centers throughout the U.S. based at 38 airports. As of 2015, 167 airports inside the U.S. have over 450 lanes dedicated to TSA Pre members.
Only legal permanent U.S. residents and U.S. citizens can apply for TSA Pre status. When they are approved, members will have a “Known Traveler Number” that gives them access to TSA Pre lanes. TSA Pre travelers don’t need to take off their shoes, remove their laptops, show their 3-1-1 liquids, take off their belts or strip their light outerwear.
“We are pleased to announce this milestone as the continued growth of the trusted traveler population allows us to better focus our resources on high-risk, unknown passengers, while facilitating travel for low-risk individuals,” TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger said. “We look forward to the continued expansion of TSA Pre as we continue our drive toward having more travelers directly enrolled in trusted-traveler programs.”
