Schumer Announces TSA Pre-Check Enrollment Center Is Coming to Syracuse Hancock International Airport; Currently, Local Residents Who Want To Enroll Must Travel To Oswego - New Enrollment Center Will Mean Shorter, More Convenient Security Lines For Travelers

Press Release

Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has agreed to establish a TSA Pre-Check Enrollment Center at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Establishing the enrollment center in Syracuse will soon make it easier for residents of Syracuse and the surrounding towns to take advantage of the Pre-Check program, which provides expedited security screenings for low-risk travelers. During his initial push, Schumer noted that both Rochester and Albany have local pre-check enrollment centers, and Syracuse should have one too. Having an enrollment center at the Syracuse Airport will now help more Syracuse travelers take advantage of the pre-check program and create a safer, more convenient flying experience for many Central New Yorkers by reducing wait times without the risk of hampering airport security.

"With this new enrollment center, Syracuse travelers will no longer have to travel 40 minutes up the road to register for the TSA Pre-Check program. This center will allow more travelers to sign up for the program, shorten security lines, and make traveler's days a lot less stressful," Schumer said. "Syracuse Hancock International Airport is a major hub for business and leisure travelers alike. Putting an enrollment center within the confines of the airport would make a really big difference. "

Schumer said previously travelers had to drive 40 minutes north to Oswego to register for the program. Schumer said the office was only open from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-3:00pm Thursday and Friday. Schumer said the long drive and difficult hours made it hard for frequent travelers from Syracuse to sign up. In March, Schumer wrote to TSA Acting Administrator Melvin Carraway to urge the TSA to establish this Pre-Check center at Syracuse Airport to expedite security lines and avoid forcing travelers to drive to the Oswego location. Schumer said with nearly 145,000 residents living in Syracuse and most using Syracuse Hancock International Airport as their preferred airport, an enrollment center would reduce long wait times at security checkpoints.

TSA Pre-Check is an expedited, risk-based screening program that allows select flyers to pass through airport security more quickly after they enroll in the program and pass a background check. Approved passengers are able to utilize special TSA Pre-Check lanes at security, and they are allowed to leave on their shoes, keep their laptop in its case, and keep liquids and gels in their carry-on bag. TSA Pre-Check helps to make the security screening process more efficient for passengers, improving their travel experience while still enabling TSA to provide effective levels of security. As of September 2013, more than 15 million passengers have experienced TSA Pre-Check since it launched in October 2011.

Once approved for TSA Pre-Check, passengers receive a known traveler number and have the opportunity to utilize special lanes at security checkpoints at approximately 130 participating airports and on 11 major airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.

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