NBTA to Airports: Expand Registered Traveler Program
NBTA Executive Director & COO, Bill Connors, CTC, spoke yesterday at the annual conference of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), urging airport leaders to expand the Registered Traveler program.
Speaking on a panel with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Deputy Director Tom Cowley, Connors said, “There is a huge market for the Registered Traveler concept in the business travel world. Time is money for corporate travelers, and the RT program offers one of the few opportunities to take some of the hassle out of the airport experience.” NBTA has been a long time proponent of both the domestic RT program in the United States and an International Registered Traveler program that would speed entry in the United States for frequent international travelers.
Connors has testified before Congress on multiple occasions in favor of the programs. The Registered Traveler session at AAAE comes on recent news of the program’s expansion into other airports and the news of several new service providers. Connors noted, that the addition of new service providers is “welcome news to corporate travel managers who know that competition and choice are important to their buying decisions.”
Airports with RT currently include Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Indianapolis International Airport (IND), New York Kennedy Airport (JFK), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Mineta San José International Airport (SJC).
Airports approved for RT and expected to go online soon include Albany International Airport (ALB), Huntsville International Airport (HSV), Little Rock National Airport (LIT), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) [Terminal B] and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Numerous other airports have expressed interest, including the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that manages Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD).
There are now five RT service provider firms: Saflink’s FLO program, Unisys’ TRGo program, Verant Identification, Verified Identity’s Clear program and Vigilant Solutions.
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For nearly 40 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.
For more information, contact Caleb Tiller, +1-703-236-1138.
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