November 4, 2011 - In testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow addressed the economic damage inflicted by the current inefficiencies in the passenger screening process. 

“For the travel community which supports rural and urban communities alike inefficiencies in the aviation security screening process impose a staggering cost on the economy, hampering job creation and economic growth,” said Dow. “And the data suggests that the problem is getting worse.” 

Additionally, Dow addressed reforms that should be made to the aviation system to stimulate the economy; improvements for the TSA’s recently created trusted traveler program, PreCheck; reconstitution of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee; and steps to decrease the number of carry-on bags. 

“Congress and TSA must find ways to encourage fewer carry-on bags,” said Dow. “The recent trend of most airlines charging separate fees for every checked bag has resulted in airline passengers ‘carrying on’ substantially more baggage per person. The increase volume of carryon baggage is causing significant checkpoint congestion, negatively impacting security, and causing significant strains on TSA personnel and resources.” 

“While the topic of aviation security is often discussed in the context of terrorism, personal privacy or technology – less attention is paid to the economic damage inflicted by the current inefficiencies in the passenger screening process. For the travel community which supports rural and urban communities alike inefficiencies in the aviation security screening process impose a staggering cost on the economy, hampering job creation and economic growth. And the data suggests that the problem is getting worse. 

“A 2008 survey of air travelers who took one or more flights in the previous year found that one in four respondents (28 percent) avoided at least one trip because of the hassles of air travel, which include aviation congestion and passenger screening. That loss of travel translates into a $26.5 billion dollar loss to the U.S. economy, including $9.4 billion to airlines, $5.6 billion to hotels, $3.1 billion to restaurants and $4.2 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue. 

“Compare that $26 billion dollar loss to a 2010 survey conducted by Consensus Research, which found that American travelers would take an additional two to three flights per year if the hassles in security screening were eliminated. These additional flights would add nearly $85 billion in consumer spending and support 900,000 American jobs.