Schatz Announces Expansion of TSA PreCheck Program to Neighbor Island Airports

Honolulu, HI—Today, Senator Brian Schatz announced that TSA is expanding its PreCheck Program in Hawai‘i. Kahului Airport, Kona International Airport, and Lihue Airport will be added to the list of airports with a TSA PreCheck option. Additionally, the number of PreCheck lanes at Honolulu International Airport will be expanding.

Senator Schatz has been actively seeking expansion of the PreCheck program in Hawaii, sending a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole in June requesting that TSA expand the PreCheck program to include interisland flights in the State of Hawai‘i.

“I’m pleased to announce that TSA has decided to expand its PreCheck Program to three airports in Hawai‘i, allowing for more efficient interisland travel,” said Senator Brian Schatz. “As an island state, Hawai‘i has unique travel needs. By making it easier for the 16,000 to 18,000 passengers who travel daily between the four major islands to commute, we are allowing room for economic growth and expansion. After communicating with Administrator Pistole on this issue, I am glad that TSA has chosen to expand this program in Hawai‘i, making it easier for visitors and commuters to fly.”

PreCheck enables low-risk passengers to move more quickly through checkpoint screening while allowing TSA to focus on passengers considered higher risk. Passengers participating in PreCheck lanes are not required to remove shoes and outerwear or laptops from bags. Expanding the PreCheck program will expedite security screening for Hawaii’s residents, workers, and tourists traveling to and from the neighbor islands, and thus promote the state’s tourism industry and strengthen its local economy.

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