CLEAR Expedited Airport Security Lanes Coming to RDU:

RDU served 950,952 passengers in September, a 19% increase compared to September 2021.  As expected, passenger traffic was lower than August totals, with a decrease of 11.5% as students returned to school and the summer travel season ended. September is typically less busy at RDU, particularly with business travel recovering slower than leisure travel.  

“Business travel continues to trail leisure travel despite the strong recovery RDU is experiencing,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “As RDU moves into the slower fall months, we are already preparing for a surge of holiday travelers from mid-November through early January.”  

Cancun Service: Travelers will have more options for winter getaways when the number of nonstop flights to one of RDU’s most popular leisure destinations expands. JetBlue will resume seasonal service to Cancun in December. The flight will operate daily from Dec. 24 – Jan. 2, then two times a week until Jan. 14. American Airlines is expected to relaunch nonstop service to Cancun in November. 

CLEAR Program: The Airport Authority Board voted Thursday to add CLEAR expedited security lanes in both terminals at RDU. CLEAR’s biometrics identification program allows approved travelers to verify their identity with their eyes or fingerprints without showing an ID. CLEAR will lease space in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with seven verification kiosks and nine enrollment kiosks. They are expected to begin operating at RDU by early 2023. 

Sustainability Policy: Staff presented to the Board a draft of the RDU Sustainability Management Policy that will formalize the Authority’s commitment towards a sustainable future. The policy is based on the informal Sustainability Statement developed in 2018 and the overall objectives of the Authority’s Sustainability Management Plan. The RDU Sustainability Management Policy is expected to be finalized in December pending Board approval.