Clear ceases operations

US-based "Clear", a security vetting service in use in a number of major US airports, has announced that it is ceasing operations:

"At 11:00 p.m. PST on June 22, 2009, Clear will cease operations. Clear's parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations."

Blogger, Grant Martin, said, "It's always sad to see a company fail, but in this case, it seems a bit more personal. Taking part in a review of the service earlier this year I distinctly remember meeting the Logan employees and writing about the experience. I wonder what they'll do now?"

His feelings were no doubt echoed by many Clear subscribers who found the service convenient and friendly, a welcome change from the usual gruff TSA approach. For an annual subscription fee of $138 (about €100), Clear travellers were treated to fast and secure identification that allowed them to bypass long queues and be processed by special TSA lanes. In peak times, the security transit could be reduced from an hour or more to under 10 minutes.

Recent expansion meant the addition and added expense of new equipment and employees at a number of airports. Many had hoped to see the service expanded even further, but today's announcement seems to spell the unfortunate end of a good idea that for whatever reason just could not make it in today's tough economic climate.