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A California airport is considering a major policy shift that would allow non-ticketed visitors to undergo TSA screening and enter secure areas and greet arriving passengers or say goodbye to departing loved ones at the gate.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s potential change would bring back the emotional send-offs and gate-side reunions that were common before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks led to heightened airport security measures.
Under the post-9/11 policies, access beyond airport security checkpoints was generally limited to ticketed travelers, although airlines could issue gate passes in certain circumstances.
But the aviation director for the City of Fresno, Mark Thorpe, explore a program that would allow loved ones to experience emotional hellos and goodbyes.
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“Whether it’s a family welcoming someone home who’s been gone for a long time, getting dinner at the airport or holding a business meeting, an airport can help create all these different experiences for people,” Thorpe told the Fresno Bee.
Thorpe said that the change could elevate the passenger experience and remind the community that an airport is a “unique place.” He said expanding access past TSA checkpoints would allow visitors to dine and shop alongside arriving and departing travelers, generating revenue for the airport while at the same time giving loved ones extra time together before flights.
“It creates a love and kind of a connection with that airport. And maybe, it means they want to fly out of here more,” he said.
Flooding terminals with non-ticketed guests could potentially impact TSA staffing, add to security checkpoint wait times and clog up seating at terminal gates.
Any program would also be subject to TSA approval, security screening and limits imposed by the airport.
While Thorpe is excited about the possibility of expanding airport access to non-ticketed visitors, he acknowledges that security remains a top priority.
“Safety and security — nothing comes before that. There are other exciting things at the airport … But our core responsibility is that safety and security element,” Thorpe said.
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If the change is adopted in Fresno, it would join six other California airports that have already introduced programs allowing approved non-ticketed visitors beyond security checkpoints.
Other Golden State airports with expanded access are Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Ontario International Airport, San Diego International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport, and John Wayne Airport, making it the state with the most airports with such programs.
More than 20 airports across the country allow non-ticketed visitors to receive a guest pass to move through airport security and into the terminal at no charge, with Pittsburgh International Airport the first major U.S. airport to enact the policy in 2017.
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