TSA Expands Touchless Facial Recognition to 14 US Airports

Denver International Airport (DEN) has introduced two security lanes allowing eligible travelers to pass through checkpoints using only biometric facial recognition, joining 13 other U.S. airports in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck Touchless ID pilot program.

Launched this summer, the program is available at airports including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Newark, New York LaGuardia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Reagan Washington National. Participating airlines are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

TSA says travelers in the program “do not need to show a physical ID or boarding pass—just your face gets you through.” Passengers must be TSA PreCheck members, have an active profile with their airline, and upload valid passport details in advance. American Airlines also requires participants to be part of its AAdvantage loyalty program.

The system compares live facial scans to images already held by the government, such as passport, Global Entry, or visa records. TSA states the images are not used for law enforcement or surveillance and are deleted within 24 hours of the flight.

The new process differs from standard checkpoints, where TSA agents verify physical IDs against photos. Passengers must still carry a physical ID as backup.

DEN CEO Phil Washington said the trial meets “the highest levels of safety and security.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noted the agency’s long-term goal is to enable passengers to walk into an airport, pass through security, and proceed directly to boarding without traditional checks.

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