Caleb Tiller
, 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Courtney Leigh Beisel
, 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Alexandria, VA (April 20, 2006) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the leading association for corporate and government travel managers and suppliers, lauds the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) progress towards a national Registered Traveler program, announced today through a press release issued by the agency.
In the statement, the TSA affirmed the Registered Traveler program will be implemented in 10 to 20 airports beginning in the second half of 2006. TSA will launch the program in cooperation with the private sector. Each airport will be required to maintain interoperability between airports, install open platform technology, utilize a central information management system with safeguards to protect passenger privacy and offer benefits that are fused with enhanced security measures. According to the statement, the TSA expects a national Registered Traveler program will be operational next year.
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| Bill Connors testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on the benefits of the Registered Traveler program on February 9, 2006. |
NBTA Executive Director and COO Bill Connors, CTC, commented, “NBTA has supported the Registered Traveler program since its inception in 2004. As a participant in one of the pilot programs offered at Reagan National Airport, I’m well aware of the benefits Registered Traveler provides frequent business travelers. I am pleased that travelers from around the country will soon reap the advantages of enrollment in a Registered Traveler program.”
Connors added, “While NBTA continues to urge the TSA to expedite the deployment of the Registered Traveler program, we are pleased that progress has been made towards a nationwide implementation.”
TSA also called for a proposed rulemaking comment period to solicit feedback from the public, a process that is supported by NBTA.
“The rulemaking period proposed by TSA will help the business community shape the future of the Registered Traveler program to ensure that the needs of America’s most frequent travelers are being met,” continued Connors. “NBTA looks forward to consulting with its corporate travel manager members to assist in the direction of the Registered Traveler program.”
As part of NBTA’s support for a national Registered Traveler program, the association is in frequent contact with the TSA and has been called upon to testify before hearings of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security on issues related to the program. NBTA looks forward to continuing and strengthening its relationship with the TSA to ensure that the Registered Traveler program remains on schedule, benefits the country’s most frequent travelers and improves overall national security.
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,700 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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