TSA scaled back Gateside PreCheck to its original 13 airports, airports say

The Transportation Security Administration has returned its Gateside by TSA PreCheck program to the original 13 participating airports, according to CNN, which cited airports where the program had operated. The program lets people enrolled in PreCheck pass through checkpoints even when they have no flight.

Press releases had said the program would expand to hundreds more airports this month, according to CNN. Denver International Airport was one of the additions, and CNN affiliate KUSA used the benefit there last week.

"TSA recently returned Gateside by TSA PreCheck operations to the original 13 participating airports, at least for the time being," the Denver airport said in a statement to CNN.

TSA did not answer CNN's inquiry seeking further details, and the reason for the change is unclear, according to CNN.

Norfolk International Airport in Virginia learned of the change from people who complained, according to CNN. Chris Jones, the airport's chief marketing and communications officer, told CNN that residents contacted the airport through social media and email after they could not select Norfolk when applying through TSA's online portal. Jones said he logged in and confirmed the airport was missing from the pulldown menu.

An airport that is absent from the Gateside website leaves prospective visitors unable to request a pass, according to CNN. The 13 launch airports are the only ones that show up for booking.

They are Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas, Indianapolis International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Los Angeles International Airport, Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Arkansas, Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma, Eppley Airfield in Nebraska, San Diego International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport.

The program launched in September at 13 airports as a limited loosening of the access restrictions in place since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. TSA said at the time that it planned to add airports in the coming months.

TSA's website describes the program as free and available at 13 airports, with a rollout to more airports planned in the coming months. Members apply through an online portal one to three days before a visit. Approved visitors use the TSA PreCheck lanes, and each pass is valid for one calendar day.