That’s according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), who shared his belief in a letter to TSA acting administrator Melvin Carraway.
Schumer’s office announced and shared the letter in a news release it issued on Monday.
The Democrat believes such a center would make it “much easier” for Central New York residents to take advantage of the pre-check program.
The program provides “expedited security screening for low-risk travelers,” according to Schumer’s office.
His concern is that travelers who want to register for the program currently need to travel to Oswego to an office, which is open only from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
Schumer contends the “long” drive and the “difficult” hours “make it hard” for frequent flyers from Syracuse to sign up.
In his eyes, the situation “does not make any sense.”
Both Rochester and Albany have local pre-check enrollment centers, Schumer noted, arguing that “Syracuse should too,” according to the news release.
Schumer contends that a pre-check center at Hancock would “create a safer, more convenient flying experience for many Central New Yorkers by reducing wait times without the risk of hampering airport security,” the news release stated.
“Bringing a TSA pre-check enrollment center to the airport would enable many more frequent travelers to sign up for the program, and make air travel easier for Syracuse residents and visitors, while still maintaining a high level of security,” Schumer said in the news release. “People would be able to move through security quicker and the lines would be shorter. Bringing this enrollment center closer to home would really make a difference, especially for professionals who travel frequently.”
Syracuse Hancock International Airport started using TSA pre-checks in 2013, Schumer’s office said.
Once approved for TSA pre-check, passengers use a “known traveler number” and can use special lanes at security checkpoints at about 130 participating airports and on 11 major airlines.
The carriers include JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) and American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL), according to Schumer’s office.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
PHOTO CREDIT: www.schumer.senate.gov