Austin airport to consolidate PreCheck, CLEAR to one TSA checkpoint. Here's why

Austin's airport on Wednesday will consolidate two of its fast-track security screening options to one checkpoint until construction to expand part of Barbara Jordan Terminal is completed in 2026, officials announced this week.

Since February, passengers flying through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport have been screened through three of four Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. Each checkpoint is designated for specific screening services, including TSA Precheck and CLEAR, a biometric identity verification system that expedites the security screening process.

As of Wednesday, passengers using TSA PreCheck and CLEAR will be directed to Checkpoint 2 West.

The largest is Checkpoint 1 with eight lanes. Checkpoints 2 West and 2 East have seven and four lanes, respectively. Checkpoint 3, the smallest of the four checkpoints, was closed earlier this year for construction. Once completed, the expanded Checkpoint 3 will offer TSA PreCheck.

Here's a breakdown of the services offered at each checkpoint as of Wednesday:

Checkpoint 1:

• General screening
• Known Crew Member screening
• Priority/Premium screening
• Americans with Disabilities Act screening

Checkpoint 2 East:

• General screening

Checkpoint 2 West:

• TSA PreCheck
• CLEAR
• Americans with Disabilities Act screening for passengers with PreCheck and those using general screening in need of accessibility accommodations

Checkpoint 3:

Checkpoint 3 closed in February for construction to add 75,000 square feet of space, additional screening lanes and housing for a new outbound baggage handling system. The expanded Checkpoint 3 will open in 2026 with six to eight new lanes.

The checkpoint expansion is part of what airport officials call the West Infill project. The project, expected to cost $241.5 million, aims to renovate the western parts of Barbara Jordan Terminal and parts of the existing concourse. The space expansion includes the baggage claim, apron, mezzanine and roof levels.