Has Cleared 75 Million Crewmembers, Boasts 75 Participating Airports

Airlines for America (A4A) and its Known Crewmember (KCM) program partner, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have announced the KCM program has reached a major milestone with the clearing of 75 million crewmembers since its inception in 2011. The KCM program decreases airport congestion by providing alternative screening opportunities for airline crewmembers, reducing the impact on the general screening lanes used every day by the traveling public.

Additionally, KCM has 63 participating airlines and now operates in 75 active airports at 163 screening locations. Manhattan Regional Airport’s (KMHK) roll out of the KCM program marked the 75th active airport in operation, another major milestone as A4A and ALPA collaborate in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on our strategic growth plan for the KCM program.

“We are pleased with the continued success of the KCM program, which works to improve safety and security while making travel more efficient for all of our valued crewmembers who use the program,” said A4A president and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “This milestone demonstrates how indispensable a tool this program is, as airports and the TSA continue to look for ways to reduce the impact of crowded screening lanes on today’s passengers.”

“KCM has proven to be a vital component to a multi-layered security screening process that allows TSA to refocus security resources, increase efficiency in security screenings, and significantly reduce wait times in security lines for pilots and the traveling public,” said Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA President. “ALPA looks forward to KCM’s continued expansion as well as further time and cost savings as the industry continues to move towards risk-based security.”

The Known Crewmember program enables TSA Security Officers to verify the identity and employment status of airline crewmembers, who already undergo thorough criminal background and employment checks as a condition of their employment.

(Source: Airlines for America news release)

FMI: www.airlines.org