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The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) –the voice of the business travel industry- said it is pleased that the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule to implement Secure Flight in 2009 has addressed nearly all of the detailed comments NBTA filed with DHS in November of 2007. NBTA will continue to work with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air carriers on the operational deployment of the program to ensure that the following elements of the final rule, which meet NBTA’s earlier requests, will allow for a successful program:
Adopting an implementation period of 270 days for carriers to reprogram their booking systems and work with third-party vendors to collect the necessary biographical information;
Coordination between TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to reduce the need for duplicative submissions of passenger information; and standardizing requirements for submission of non-sensitive personal information to maximize the effectiveness of the matching systems to limit the number of people flagged as watch list hits.
“The road to final implementation for Secure Flight has been a long and arduous one that has subjected too many travelers to time-consuming and embarrassing searches at our airports and other security checkpoints. We are pleased that TSA is now positioned to move forward with Secure Flight in an effective manner, and that the program will address the business travel community’s concerns as voiced by NBTA,” commented NBTA Executive Director & COO Bill Connors, CTC. “Secure Flight is not a silver bullet to enhance security and facilitation at our airports, but it is a necessary and long-overdue component of an effective security strategy.”
NBTA has long been an advocate for improving today’s broken watch list review process which has inconvenienced tens of thousands of innocent travelers attempting to fly domestically and internationally. The association has engaged the Congress and the TSA concerning the development of Secure Flight, previously known as CAPPS II, since the creation of TSA.
Most recently, NBTA has been the leading travel industry supporter of the FAST Redress bill (H.R.4179 and S.3392), which would create a Cleared List of individuals who have encountered confusion with similarly-named individuals on watch lists. This bill passed the House of Representatives in June of 2008 and is awaiting action in the Senate. Additionally, NBTA urges TSA and DHS to continue to enhance passenger security and facilitation by:
– Enhancing the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) by implementing an effective communications campaign and reducing processing time for redress complaints to reduce the frequency of secondary screening;
– Working with air carriers and other private sectors players to harmonize the new Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) requirement with Secure Flight; and
– Restoring the background check and risk management aspects of the Registered Traveler program to provide TSA with additional information about a growing number of frequent business travelers and reducing the burden on TSA screeners.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
