Express Security Lane May Woo Fliers

For months, officials at BWI Thurgood Marshall airport have been mulling the idea of installing an express lane that business travelers and other frequent fliers can pay to use.

Spokesman Jonathan Dean said the airport is no closer to a decision than before, but recent events might force BWI executives to make the call earlier than they'd like.

Earlier this month, the federal Transportation Security Administration invited the public to weigh in on the express lanes, which are the key concept behind the agency's Registered Travelers program.

The lanes will be manned either by TSA employees or workers from security companies certified by the agency, said TSA spokesman Amy Kudwa. Several airports - including Reagan National in Washington - have conducted test runs of the program, limiting it to a few express lanes for one or two airlines at a time.

TSA is analyzing public feedback and soon will release a finalized set of guidelines for airports to follow if they choose to adopt the program, Ms. Kudwa said.

That means the heat is on for BWI and regional competitors like Dulles International Airport to decide if the program is worth it. The goal is to attract more frequent fliers.

"First-class business travelers are the heavy hitters in terms of providing consistent revenue," said George Hamlin, a Virginia-based aviation consultant. "They're highly prized by airlines."

The concept is simple: Participants pay an annual fee and undergo a TSA threat assessment. They also must provide either a fingerprint or allow their retinas to be scanned so their identity can be quickly and positively established at the airport.

In return, they get their own, fast security lane, away from regular checkpoints filled with children, families or elderly passengers, all of whom can slow down the screening process.

TSA will maintain a supervisory role by ensuring security standards at the express lanes remain high and business travelers at BWI are united in their support for the program.

Mike Hatcher, a salesman for a software company based in Columbia, said he flies out of BWI every week.

"I think speed is fairly important," he said. "If you want to attract business travelers then (the program) is a big deal."

"I think it'd be worthwhile," said Michael Perry of Mechanicsburg, Pa. As the information systems director at a medical services company, Mr. Perry flies out of BWI at least once a month on business. "Practical issues loom large for most business travelers," he said.

But BWI has to worry about the practical issues associated with an express lane, Mr. Dean said.

"We need to examine how it would be implemented. There are space issues, there are logistical hitches and we need to see how cost-efficient it would be," he said. "But we are looking at the benefits in terms of how it will affect our customers and our business."

Dulles is taking a similarly cautious approach.

"We're not very far down the road either," said Dulles spokesman Tara Hamilton. "If we could be assured that the security companies providing the express service could do it without compromising the overall screening process, we would be interested."

While frequent fliers can focus readily on speed benefits, airports must be more conservative, said Charles Chambers, vice president of security and economic affairs for Airports Council International in North America.

"Airports want to make sure ... that (the program) is not going to diminish their existing structure," he said. "It's going to be a very significant decision that will probably be permanent, so what we've seen is a very deliberate approach."

Once the guidelines become finalized and airports can begin adopting the program, decisions will have to be made on a case-by-case basis, Mr. Chambers said.

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