TSA Announces Major Change for 50 Airports Across the United States in 2026

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been rolling out some high-profile changes over the past several months in an effort to make travel more efficient and hassle-free while still prioritizing security. However, some of those changes have been limited to major airports until now.

The TSA has confirmed that one major technological upgrade is coming to 50 different airports across the country in 2026, allowing for a faster and much more seamless trip through security through eligibile passengers.

TSA PreCheck Touchless ID

Last year, the TSA began rolling out its TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, which greatly streamlined the security screening process for eligible travelers.

The TSA has been using facial recognition and biometric technology for a number of years. Last year, however, the agency expanded its use of the technology in a big way, rolling out TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, which works in a way that does not even require passengers to use their ID at the checkpoint.

Instead of comparing the traveler’s facial scan to the photo on their ID or passport, the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID compares the facial scan at the airport against a gallery of templates of pre-staged photos that the passenger previously provided to the government with their passport or visa.

In order to make use of the technology, passengers must register with their respective airline before checking into their flight.

“That’s actually one of the more exciting developments is the frictionless ID for TSA pre-check where all you have to do is just use your face and it basically matches your face to your stored information,” security expert Jake Parker, who is the Senior Director of Government Relations of the Security Industry Association (SIA), told me during a recent phone interview. “You don’t even have to pull out your boarding pass or ID or anything.”

While Parker has a positive take on the new technology and does not think that it changes much about the security process or personal privacy, several experts disagree, with some expressing concerns about how the data is used and stored. Some lawmakers are even working to limit the technology.

Limited Availability

While the new technology is undeniably exciting, it is currently limited to select airlines at just 15 airports throughout the country, via Upgraded Points:

• Alaska Airlines: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington Reagan (DCA)
• American Airlines: Atlanta, Charlotte (CLT), Chicago, Dallas (DFW), Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington Reagan
• Delta Air Lines: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Detroit (DTW), Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington Reagan
• Southwest Airlines: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle
• United Airlines: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Washington Reagan

Expanding to 50 Airports

Currently, the technology is limited. However, the TSA has announced plans to expand its TSA PreCheck Touchless ID technology to 50 additional airports by the end of spring, bringing the total to 65 airports around the country.

The airports with the highest priority will be Anchorage (ANC), Baltimore (BWI), Boston (BOS), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston-Bush (IAH), Houston-Hobby (HOU), John Wayne-Orange County (SNA), Kansas City (MCI), Long Beach (LGB), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), West Palm Beach (PBI), San Jose (SJC), Sacramento (SMF), and Washington Dulles (IAD).

By the spring, however, the technology will be coming to Albuquerque (ABQ), Austin (AUS), Birmingham (BHM), Boise (BOI), Buffalo (BUF), Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), Chicago Midway (MDW), Cincinnati (CVG), Cleveland (CLE), Columbus (CMH), Hartford Bradley (BDL), Honolulu (HNL), Indianapolis (IND), Jacksonville (JAX), Milwaukee (MKE), Nashville (BNA), New Orleans (MSY), Oklahoma City (OKC), Palm Springs (PSP), Phoenix (PHX), Pittsburgh (PIT), Providence (PVD), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), San Antonio (SAT), San Diego (SAN), San Juan (SJU), St. Louis (STL), Tampa (TPA), Tulsa (TUL), and Westchester County (HPN).