The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) was named one of 60 airports to participate in a pre-screening program that expedites security screenings for certain passengers.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has already implemented the program at 40 airports, bringing the total to 100.
Pre-approved passengers will have their status embedded in the barcode on their boarding passes. They will not have to remove shoes, light outerwear or belts from their bodies or remove laptops and liquids from their bags. A TSA spokesperson said there is no way to determine how much time the expedited process would save passengers, but more than 15 million passengers have participated in the program since it launched in October 2011.
A date for when the program will begin at GSP has not yet been set, but the 60 new airports are expected to see implementation by the end of the year.
Rosylin Weston, GSP vice president of communications, said the airport is pleased to have been included in the program. A TSA spokesperson said the agency considers many factors, including airport and checkpoint layout, in determining when and where the new procedure will be implemented.
Officials said like other airports, GSP will have to make some equipment changes in order to participate, but these will have no bearing on the planned renovations that will consolidate the airport’s two checkpoints.
Eligible passengers include U.S. citizens who are members of frequent traveler programs invited by participating airlines and those who are members of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler program. Later this year TSA will launch an application program, allowing more U.S. citizens to enroll.
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.
