For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security today announced the expansion of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) expedited screening program, TSA Pre✓™, to include eligible customers of Air Canada, the first international carrier to participate. TSA is working with additional international carriers to join TSA Pre✓™.
“I thank Air Canada for working with TSA to become the first international carrier to offer TSA Pre✓™,” said Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security. “This action underscores our commitment to easing the traveler experience, while maintaining the highest standards of security.”
TSA Pre✓™ is an expedited screening program that allows pre-approved airline travelers to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes at U.S. domestic airports. TSA Pre✓™ operations are available at more than 115 airports nationwide, with more than 40 of those locations offering expedited screening to Air Canada customers.
Today’s announcement makes a total of 10 carriers who participate in TSA Pre✓™ including: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.
“Air Canada is delighted to be the first international airline to offer TSA Pre✓™ accelerating the security screening process for eligible customers at most of the U.S. destinations served by Air Canada,” said Benjamin Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. “Air Canada serves the most passengers with the most daily flights of any non-U.S. carrier in the United States. TSA Pre✓™ will make our customers’ travel experience with us even more enjoyable, including those connecting through our main hubs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to international destinations in Asia and Europe.”
“I congratulate Air Canada on becoming the first international airline to participate in TSA Pre✓™,” said U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman. “TSA Pre✓™ is one of many innovative measures we are taking to achieve our goal of improving the efficiency of our border, facilitating trade and travel, and protecting the safety of the travelling public. This is consistent with the vision of President Obama and Prime Minister Harper in their Beyond the Border initiative, and the fact that a Canadian airline is the first international partner speaks to the closeness of our relationship and the importance of our work managing our common border.”
Passengers who are eligible for TSA Pre✓™ include: members of the TSA Pre✓™ application program, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program, Global Entry, and Canadian citizens who are members of CBP’s NEXUS program. TSA Pre✓™ is also available for U.S. Armed Forces service members, including those serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Reserves and National Guard.
Travelers flying out of the U.S. on Air Canada airlines will now have the opportunity to receive TSA Pre✓™ when utilizing printed boarding passes at the airport check-in desk or from the kiosk in the departure lobby. Air Canada will expand its participation in TSA Pre✓™ to include mobile app and printed at home paper boarding passes later this year.
If an Air Canada passenger is eligible for expedited screening, a TSA Pre✓™ indicator will be embedded in the barcode of the boarding pass so that when scanned at the checkpoint, the passenger may be referred to a TSA Pre✓™ lane. Air Canada will also print a TSA Pre✓™ indicator directly on the boarding pass so passengers will know in advance that they have been cleared for expedited screening.
TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport. No individual will be guaranteed expedited screening.
For more information, please visit www.TSA.gov or www.AirCanada.com.
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