Airlines give a thumbs down to new fingerprinting plan

Airlines are voicing their disapproval about a new plan that would require international passengers departing the U.S. to be fingerprinted before they leave.

While Congress recently approved the fingerprinting measure, the airlines are urging the White House to kill the plan, saying that fingerprinting every international passenger as they depart would further stall the boarding process.

Government officials recently stated that fingerprinting one foreign traveler "would take about a minute," which, multiplied by hundreds of passengers per flight, would slow the departure process considerably.

"If you think the travel process is bad now, just wait," said the head of the International Air Transport Association.

The fingerprinting plan is another move by the Department of Homeland Security to keep track of-- what else?-- terrorists. Recommended by the panel that investigated the 9-11 attacks, the idea has been roundly criticized by the airlines, privacy groups, foreign governments, and members of Congress.

Filed under: United States, Airlines, Transportation, Airports