Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) this week applauded the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend the implementation of REAL ID requirements.
DHS has pushed the requirement for obtaining a REAL ID for travelers until May 2023 due to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We welcome the announcement from DHS Secretary Mayorkas extending the implementation of REAL ID requirements for commercial airline passengers,” said Kevin Burke, ACI-NA president and CEO. “The effects of the pandemic over the past year have been detrimental to the travel industry, and social distancing requirements have brought more challenges to those attempting to obtain compliant identification in-person at departments of motor vehicles. Since the start of the pandemic, ACI-NA has urged DHS to extend the deadline until there is a sufficiently high saturation of REAL ID compliant licenses so that implementation does not unnecessary delay travelers.”
