Rockford Airport Again

The airport that we should use as the example, has done it again. In case anyone has forgotten, they are very similar to ORH being the secondary airport to Chicago, who also lost all commercial service a few years back. They have gotten back on their feet by targeting the leisure traveler with second-tier airlines, free parking and a name change (Chicago/Rockford International).

In their on-going efforts to differentiate themselves, check this story on the Registered Traveler Program.



ROCKFORD — Chicago/Rockford International Airport could be one of the airports that participates in the Registered Traveler program when it is implemented by the federal Transportation Security Administration this summer.

Nearly two years ago, the TSA launched pilot programs at five U.S. airports that allowed volunteer travelers to provide personal information to TSA, which conducted security background checks on the individuals, to speed up the security process at airports.
Approved individuals then provided fingerprint and iris biometric information. That information was then used at participating airports to identify the registered travelers. Those passengers were allowed to then bypass normal security lines.

Because of the success of the pilot programs, the federal government plans to expand a fee-based Registered Traveler program to airports nationally this summer.
Airport Executive Director Bob O’Brien said the Greater Rockford Airport Authority is interested in the program. He said the airport’s involvement would depend upon the final rules of the program. TSA is now completing the process of creating Registered Traveler.