Most Travelers Support Biometric Screening at Airports

Lawmakers are hesitant to embrace biometric-identification technology, but new research shows most air travelers want it. In fact, four out of five flyers support biometric screening at airports for greater safety and efficiency at TSA checkpoints, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Travel Association and market research firm Ipsos. Of the 1,408 respondents, 469 had traveled within the past three months.

Biometric tools have existed for decades, but lawmakers’ privacy concerns have stalled widespread adoption in the travel sector. In May 2023, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced legislation to the Federal Aviation Administration's reauthorization bill that would ban the use of biometrics such as facial recognition at U.S. airports. While it did not advance in the final FAA reauthorization bill, it could resurface, according to a U.S. Travel spokesperson.

“Travelers embrace next-generation technology, while a small cadre of Congress members seeks to take air travel back to the Dark Ages,” said Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel's president and CEO. Particularly in an election year, “forcing antiquated approaches upon travelers will have consequences among voters,” he added.

Why travelers favor biometric screening

Nearly all Americans (92 percent) and air travelers (95 percent) agree that verifying flyers’ identity is an important TSA measure to protect the flying public. Other survey highlights include:

• Nine in 10 air travelers would support the use of biometrics at TSA checkpoints if it expedited the security-screening process.
• Supporters of TSA biometrics cite deterring terrorism and human trafficking (71 percent), and making airports safer (66 percent) as key benefits.
•  More than half of Americans are more likely to support biometrics if assured that the data would help stop terrorism, be deleted after a trip, and not be shared with other government agencies.

US Travel urges immediate federal support

“These results emphasize the important work of our Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel, which is closely examining the use of biometrics to strengthen security, improve the passenger experience, and protect privacy,” Freeman noted. With major global sporting events coming to the United States, Congress must invest in and fully support the use of biometrics “to welcome and process millions of visitors in the coming years,” he said.

The commission, chaired by former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, has embarked on a yearlong study to improve U.S. global competitiveness, and increase travel security and efficiency. A report and recommendations from the commission are expected this fall.