The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has revoked the eligibility of more airports to participate in a program that allows non-ticketed visitors to escort friends and family to the boarding gates. TSA had previously announced an expansion of the program known as Gateside, a new addition to the TSA PreCheck program, which began as a pilot program at 13 airports nationwide in September. The program reinstates the pre-9/11 standard practice at U.S. airports, allowing approved visitors without tickets to pass through security checkpoints to directly meet or bid farewell to loved ones at the boarding gates, as well as to meet with them during layovers and enjoy dining and shopping within the airport premises.
After initially expanding the implementation scope in early October, TSA began rolling out the program at airports nationwide. However, in recent days, several airports have reported being removed from the program.
Denver International Airport in Colorado and Norfolk International Airport in Virginia are among those airports that indicated on October 17 to USA Today that they have been recently removed from the Gateside program.
TSA, in a statement provided to USA Today, mentioned that the program is still in an operational evaluation phase and is limited to the initial 13 airports. However, the statement did not provide an explanation for the recent expansion and subsequent reduction of the program, nor did it specify when more airports might be added.
As of October 19, the participating airports listed on the Gateside program website still remain the original 13 pilot airports:
1. Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona (AZA)
2. John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio (CMH)
3. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas (DFW)
4. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan (DTW)
5. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas (ICT)
6. Indianapolis International Airport in Indiana (IND)
7. Los Angeles International Airport in California (LAX)
8. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT)
9. Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OKC)
10. Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska (OMA)
11. San Diego International Airport in California (SAN)
12. Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah (SLC)
13. Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada (LAS)
The information provided in this article was referenced from USA Today.