U.S. Travel Association Urges Reform of Security Screening

Roger Dow, the U.S. Travel Association's  president and CEO, will address the economic damage inflicted by the current inefficiencies in the passenger screening process in his testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Nov. 2.

Dow is expected to address key issues, including: reforms that can be made to the aviation security system to stimulate the economy; creating a risk-based trusted traveler program; steps to decrease the number of carry-on bags and reconstitution of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee.

Among those who will testify are John S. Pistole, administrator, Transportation Security Administration, Kenneth J. Dunlap, global director, security and travel facilitation, International Air Transport Association and Charles M. Barclay, president, American Association of Airport Executives.

U.S. Travel will provide a ten-year perspective on the effects of 9/11 on the travel industry and release a set of principles that will maintain and improve a current high-level security standards, while introducing convenience and higher quality service for America's travelers.

"The price of security has come at the cost of efficiency and billions of dollars are being lost every day. A 2008 survey of air travelers who took one or more flights in the previous year found that one in four respondents avoided at least one trip because of the hassles of air travel. That translates into a $26.5 billion loss to the U.S. economy," U.S. Travel said.

"Compare that to a 2010 survey, which found that American travelers would take an additional two to three flights per year if the hassles in security screening were eliminated. These additional flights would add nearly $85 billion in consumer spending and support 900,000 jobs," the association said as background.

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