"Given the breadth of capabilities within the service provider community, pro-active and continuous interaction between airports and service providers can only serve to generate the most effective specifications for an interoperable, nationwide Registered Traveler Program," Carter Morris, AAAE Senior Vice President said. "This continues to be an airport-driven effort. The Service Provider Council will help provide the continuity between current solutions and new technology and proposed business processes."

An interoperable, nationwide Registered Traveler Program depends on the implementation of a technical, operational, and business model capable of supporting individual airport needs, while providing the common infrastructure that allows passengers to use this capability at any airport nationwide. To ensure that potential industry partners will certify their solutions into a common framework as outlined by RTIC, the consortium established the Service Provider Council as a way for service providers to participate in the development of the technical and business processes required for the next phase of Registered Traveler.

The RTIC Service Provider Council is open for participation to any commercial organization currently providing or actively evaluating Registered Traveler solutions. Service providers, through their active participation, will provide substantive input and review of the common technical and business processes via an on-going process.

"The RTIC values the proven expertise and experience of Daon and has asked the company to lead and manage the activities of the Service Provider Council," explained Carter Morris, AAAE Senior Vice President.

"Since the initial technology demonstration phase in 2003, Daon has championed the Registered Traveler concept and has been actively involved in delivering RT solutions to multiple airports in the USA," commented Tom Grissen, Daon's CEO. "We remain committed to supporting the emergence of a national market leveraging technical and business standards that will deliver interoperability to the airports and best serve the needs of the traveling public."

In support of the RTIC, the Service Provider Council plans to develop and review technical and business interoperability specifications which it is anticipated would form part of future procurement efforts.

Airports founding the consortium include Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor, San Francisco International Airport, Denver International Airport, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's Reagan Washington National and Dulles International Airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and the Port Columbus International Airport. Over 50 airports have joined the founding members. A roster of airport members can be found at www.rtconsortium.org/searchRoster.cfm.

Airports and service providers interested in joining the consortium should visit www.rtconsortium.org or contact Colleen Chamberlain at colleen.chamberlain@aaae.org.