Airlines require more passenger data

People making reservations for domestic flights are now required to submit dates of birth and genders as part of the first phase of a new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening process that went into effect in August. Aimed at keeping boarding passes out of the hands of terrorists, the Secure Flight program attempts to meet congressional mandates passed in 2007.

“By enhancing and streamlining the watch list matching process, the Secure Flight program makes travel safer and easier for millions of Americans,” Gale Rossides, the TSA’s acting administrator, said. The program’s goal is to vet 100 percent of airline passengers through the TSA’s watch list by next year. TSA’s goal is to vet all passengers on domestic commercial flights by early next year, and all passengers on all international commercial flights by the end of 2010.