Leading Airport Group Warns of Real ID ‘Crisis’

The CEO of the largest airport association in the U.S. sounded the alarm last week about the impending Real ID deadline, saying “a real crisis” is looming for tens of millions of air travelers.

Kevin Burke, who leads Airports Council International – North America, appeared in an NBC News report on the race to get citizens to upgrade their state-issued identification to meet mandated federal standards by Oct. 1. Beginning that day, driver’s licenses and similar forms of photo ID will no longer be accepted at TSA checkpoints for passengers booked on commercial flights.

Burke and other aviation officials have been lobbying the White House to push back that deadline.

“If the government doesn’t make a definitive statement now that they’re going to extend this, then we’re going to have a real crisis on our hands come October 1st,” he said.

Congress passed the Real ID law in 2005, prompted by the September 11 terrorist attacks. The new cards are required for federal purposes; in addition to flights, citizens will need Real ID to enter federal buildings (excluding federal courts) or to gain entry to military bases.

Getting Real ID requires submitting an original birth certificate or passport, a Social Security card, proof of residency and documentation of any name changes. There is a one-time $30 fee in Pen