MAY 5, 2010

Starting today, TSA will pro-actively implement a new requirement for airlines when it comes to vetting expedited additions to the No Fly list. Currently, airlines are required to re-check the list within 24 hours. Under the new measure, they will be required to check within 2 hours of being electronically notified of a special circumstance expedited No Fly name (such as the one Monday).

As we saw with Faisal Shahzad, in an expedited no fly nomination, the airline is responsible for manually checking the name against the no fly list within 24 hours. In his case, the airline seemingly didn't check the name, and the suspect was allowed to purchase a ticket and obtain a boarding pass.

Under the new measure, the airline would be required to re-check the list within 2 hours of being notified of a special circumstance expedited No Fly name.

TSA's Secure Flight program enhances the security of domestic and international commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching. Under Secure Flight, TSA will conduct uniform prescreening of passenger information against federal government watch lists for all domestic flights by Spring 2010 and all international flights by the end of 2010. TSA is taking over this responsibility from airlines.

Under Secure Flight, TSA processes information beginning up to 72 hours in advance and recurrently vets up to the time a flight departs.

Background statement from an administration official communicated to FierceGovernmentIT on May 6.