Registered Traveler starts at Atlanta airport

Atlanta's airport today became the 21st airport in the United States to offer the Registered Traveler program's security lanes for enrolled and pre-screened travelers. It is the first airport to open those lanes since the Transportation Security Administration started changes to the program in late July.

Verified Identity Pass Inc. launched its Clear designated lanes at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the company said in a news release. The Clear program has enrolled more than 210,000 members nationwide since 2005.

The Registered Traveler program operates as a partnership among TSA, private vendors and airport authorities. Its users pay a fee, supply personal information and have their identities authenticated. Once enrolled, they receive biometric identity cards and get expedited service in lines leading up to security checkpoints at the 21 airports.

From 2005 until July 30, the travelers also went through a TSA security threat assessment pre-screening process. The agency dropped those advance screenings because it said Registered Traveler enrollees must go through the same terrorist watch list screening at airports that all passengers go through.

“Hartsfield-Jackson has a long reputation as the economic engine of the Southeast, due in part to the thousands of business travelers who pass through our gates daily,” Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said in the news release. “Clear has generated a great deal of interest from our customers and we are pleased that it’s now available.”