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AirTran Airways Sponsors Clear to Operate at Laguardia Airport.

Posted on: Thursday, 19 July 2007, 18:09 CDT

NEW YORK, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear,(R) the leading service provider of registered traveler (RT) lanes at U.S. airports, and AirTran Airways today announced a partnership that includes the operation of fast lanes at LaGuardia's Central Terminal and nationwide co-marketing efforts. With the addition of LaGuardia, travelers at all three New York-area airports will be able to access Clear's fast pass lanes. The Clear-AirTran Airways co- marketing partnership includes large-scale e-mail efforts, advertising campaigns, and on-board promotions to be rolled out nationwide.

"We are pleased to be a sponsor of the Clear Registered Traveler program at New York's LaGuardia International Airport," says Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways' president and chief operating officer. "Our frequent travelers value every minute of their time and this program will help them flow through the airport with ease and cut down on the time they spend waiting in line without compromising the multiple layers of safety and security that are built into commercial air travel today."

Applicants can begin enrollment at flyclear.com and complete their enrollment in midtown Manhattan at the Grand Hyatt, or the in-airport enrollment locations at JFK or Newark. The in-airport enrollment center at LGA, where biometrics (fingerprints and iris images) are captured, will open in August, and the program will be fully operational in September. Location details and hours of operation are available at flyclear.com/airports.

Clear's growing national network of fast lanes is now in place at Orlando, JFK, San Jose, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Airports, and, as of today, at Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B. Clear also opened an enrollment center today at Albany International Airport, which will launch a Clear lane in early August.

Additionally, Little Rock National and Westchester (NY) County Airports will open Clear lanes in August. And, Clear has just been selected by the San Francisco Airport Commission after a public competitive bid. Subject to final Board of Supervisors approval of its contract, Clear hopes to launch at SFO in September.

Other airports expected to launch RT programs this fall include Washington, DC (Reagan and Dulles), Denver, and Atlanta, all of whom have issued or in the case of Atlanta are about to issue Requests for Proposals. Because of the Transportation Security Administration's requirement that all RT cards be interoperable, Clear cards will be recognized at all of these airports no matter which service provider wins these bids. Thus, Clear is already marketing and, in some cases, setting up enrollment centers in each of these cities, and using national marketing partnerships with major travel companies such as Hyatt Hotels -- and now AirTran Airways -- to supplement these efforts.

"AirTran Airways is providing a proven, avidly-appreciated customer service by bringing Clear to LaGuardia," said Clear founder and CEO Steven Brill. "And, we are delighted to partner with AirTran Airways to roll-out Clear across its network to the millions of fliers that enjoy its service each year." Brill added, "our first domestic airline partner, AirTran Airways, marks a true turning point for Registered Traveler. It is no longer a matter of 'if' or even 'when,' as much as it is a matter of 'how fast.' AirTran Airways is an entrepreneurial airline that places significant emphasis on customer service. For that reason, it is an ideal partner for Clear."

Clear, with over 52,000 members nationwide and nearly 500,000 verifications at its lanes, celebrated its two year anniversary this morning in Orlando, the site of its first lane launch, with an announcement of a broad nationwide print, radio, online and outdoor advertising campaign, which showcases what is now a national network of eleven Clear locations that is likely to reach more than half of the nation's most significant airports by the end of this year.

The ad campaign, headlined "Fly Through Airport Security," features endorsements of the Clear experience from actual named customers. "Clear has been a life-saver on Monday mornings," says Kathy Blackburn. "This service has been a real stress reliever."

"Thank you for a great business travel tool, a service-oriented staff, and a value-delivered experience," says Bart Alderman. "It has allowed me to catch at least two flights I would have missed if I were not using the Clear lane," says Jack Vonich. (These quotes and others will rotate on the homepage of flyclear.com for the duration of the ad campaign.)

Clear's new verification kiosk, with state-of-the-art shoe scanner technology, has been installed at all Clear lanes. The TSA-approved kiosk is in use today in Orlando -- where members can, in most instances, leave their shoes on as they pass through the security checkpoint. The shoe scanning technology will become operational at all other locations as soon as TSA- approved protocols are in place. Another technology is expected to exempt Clear members from removing their suit coats and other outer garments in the coming months. The next technology in development is a scanner that will allow a laptop to stay in its case.

Verified Identity Pass's Clear Registered Traveler is the largest registered traveler program operating at U.S. airports. Clear has been operational since July 19, 2005, at Orlando International Airport and has over 55,000 members. Earlier this year, Clear launched lanes at JFK, San Jose, Indianapolis and Cincinnati International Airports, and most recently at Newark's Terminal B. Today it launched a Clear enrollment center at Albany International and announced plans to open a program at LaGuardia with AirTran Airways. In addition, Clear has been selected by San Francisco International, Little Rock National and Westchester (NY) County Airports for programs there, and the company also has an agreement with Toronto Pearson International Airport to operate a Canadian program, working with Canadian authorities. Clear's verification kiosk with shoe scanning technology, co-developed with Verified Identity Pass's partner GE, will allow members, in most instances, to keep their shoes on as they pass through the Clear lanes at the security checkpoint. For more information, please visit: http://www.flyclear.com/.

AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company, offers passengers more than 700 affordable, daily flights to 56 destinations throughout the United States. The airline is the second-largest carrier at its hub, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and one of America's largest low-fare airlines. With more than 8,800 friendly Crew Members and free online booking on airtran.com, AirTran Airways makes travel both pleasant and convenient. The airline flies America's youngest all-Boeing fleet, composed of the fuel- efficient Boeing 737-700 and 717-200 aircraft. AirTran Airways was also the first to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft and the only airline with Business Class seating on every flight. For more information, visit airtran.com.

Clear

CONTACT: Cindy Rosenthal, +1-212-332-6306,crosenthal@verifiedidpass.com, or Tad Hutcheson, +1-678-254-7442,tad.hutcheson@airtran.com

Web site: http://flyclear.com/http://airtran.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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