Clear shuts down paid airport security lines business

Clear, the company with paid security lines at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, is shutting down after failing to reach an agreement with a key creditor, according to its Web site and customer service line.

Clear members paid as much as $199 for an annual membership and underwent background checks to access special security lanes at participating airports around the country. The company targeted frequent business travelers seeking a faster security screening process. A message on Clear’s Web site, flyclear.com, said Clear would cease operations Monday evening.

It’s unclear what will happen with Clear subscribers’ memberships. In March, Clear said about 20,000 metro Atlanta residents had signed up for the program.

Its parent company, New York-based Verified Identity Pass Inc., was not able to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations, according to the Web site. Company officials did not return calls and e-mail messages.

Clear started operations at Hartsfield-Jackson last fall. In March, Clear said the Atlanta site had become the busiest of its 20 operations. In a recent press release, the company said it had signed up about 260,000 travelers nationwide.

Steven Brill, founder of Court TV, led the company and launched the Clear registered traveler program in 2005. Other companies have competed to offer a similar service.

Hartsfield-Jackson spokesman John Kennedy said the shutdown of Clear “will not impact our customers” because although Clear members had their own lines leading up to security screening, they used the same checkpoint lanes as other passengers to proceed through metal detectors and have luggage screened.

The airport also expanded its security checkpoints and launched streamlined, free security lanes for non-Clear members with designations such as black diamond for expert travelers. That, along with other factors, lessened the advantage Clear had to attract members.

“Since our security expansion last fall, security lines at Hartsfield have rarely exceeded 10 minutes,” Kennedy said.