In the aftermath of unprecedented air travel during the Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Travel Association published survey findings that highlight travelers’ preference for biometric technology screening. This technology is seen as a means to enhance passenger safety and improve efficiency at airport security checkpoints.
A significant majority of air travelers endorse the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) implementation of biometric technology at airports, aiming to enhance security and elevate the travel experience. While travelers welcome this advanced technology, a limited group of congressional members attempts to revert air travel to outdated practices. Any additional attempts to undermine the travel experience by imposing obsolete methods on passengers will likely have repercussions among the electorate.
A significant proportion of air travelers (79%), Americans (78%), Democrats (80%), and Republicans (76%) are in favor of implementing biometrics at TSA security checkpoints for the purpose of confirming travelers’ identities.
Almost all Americans (92%) and air travelers (95%) believe that the verification of traveler identity is a crucial step taken by the TSA to ensure the safety of the flying public.
Furthermore, nine out of ten air travelers indicate that they would be more inclined or equally inclined to endorse the use of biometrics at TSA security checkpoints if it resulted in a reduction of the average time required to pass through security.
Proponents of TSA biometrics predominantly cite the prevention of terrorism and human trafficking (71%) and the enhancement of airport safety (66%) as their primary motivations for endorsing the implementation of biometric technology at TSA security checkpoints, prioritizing these reasons over considerations of travel efficiency and wait times.
A majority of Americans express a greater inclination to endorse the use of biometrics at TSA security checkpoints when informed that the data would:
- Be erased within hours following the conclusion of the trip,
- Be utilized to combat terrorism,
- Incorporate measures to guarantee that biometric data is not disclosed to other government entities.
The findings underscore the significant efforts of our Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel, which is thoroughly investigating the application of biometrics to enhance security, elevate the passenger experience, and safeguard privacy.
In light of the numerous major global sporting events scheduled in the United States and the fact that a substantial majority of travelers favor biometric screening, it is imperative for Washington to allocate funding and implement this technology extensively at our nation’s airports to accommodate and manage the millions of visitors anticipated in the coming years.
