Statement by Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, on today's announcement by the Department of Transportation that airline industry performance has improved:
“Improved on-time performance for airlines is good news for business and leisure travelers, and we applaud the airlines for this accomplishment. But it's just one step towards improving the overall air travel experience for the two million passengers who fly daily.
“With U.S. air travel volume forecasted to double in the next 20 years, we must continue to create a more efficient and secure screening process to ensure our current system is not overwhelmed. We can improve security and decrease the hassle factor of air travel by expanding enrollment in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) PreCheck program, currently available at 19 airports and operational with five airlines.
“Although two million travelers have currently been screened through PreCheck, several barriers continue to prevent more Americans from enrolling. Travelers must either join U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program, which requires an in-person interview only offered at 25 locations in the U.S., or qualify through an airline frequent flier program, which we estimate would cost roughly $10,000 in airfare paid to a single airline, in a single year, in order to accrue enough frequent flier miles to qualify.
“Air travel continues to be the gateway to commerce. Improving security and decreasing the hassle factor of air travel is a win-win for travelers and the American economy.”
The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $1.9 trillion in economic output and supports 14.4 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.
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