Bigger planes, more flights and now Real IDs. Are there delays in Tri-Cities?
With the summer travel season arriving soon, the Tri-Cities Airport is upping its game.
The regional airport in Pasco celebrated May 7 — a red letter day for passenger security — by announcing additional flights, bigger aircraft and little trouble adapting to highly-publicized enforcement of Real ID rules on travelers.
The Transportation Security Administration began enforcing Real ID rules on Wednesday. Passengers without eligible documents faced added scrutiny before being allowed to head to their planes.
A screening agent at the Pasco airport said some passengers were missing Real IDs, but agents was able to allow them through with extra screening.
At 7 a.m., security lines were minimal as passengers arrived for morning flights.
Risk missing flights
Officially, all passengers must present an enhanced license, valid passports, military identification or other federally-approved documents when they arrive at the TSA checkpoint.
Airports advise travelers without the correct identification to come early to allow added time for extra screening. Passengers without proper ID could risk missing flights depending on the number of other passengers to be screened.
Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 but repeatedly delayed implementation while states upgraded license procedures to meet the new requirements. The May 7 deadline to comply prompted a crush of demand in Washington.
Local driver license offices reported long lines and few if any appointments within a hundred miles of the Tri-Cities before June. The state has advised license-seekers to wait if they don’t urgently need a new license.
The delays affected everyone needing a new or renewed license since regular and enhanced licenses are handled at the same customer counters at DOL offices.
Delta, United upgrades
In other airport related news, the Port of Pasco confirmed that two of the airlines that serve the Tri-Cities are upgrading service, including adding bigger planes with more seats and amenities.
Delta Air Lines is assigning a larger Airbus A319 to its Minneapolis-St. Paul run and is expanding daily service to Salt Lake City with a fourth flight. That run is served by a 76-seat Embraer 175.
United Airlines assigned an Airbus A319 to its Denver run.
A319s carry 110 or more passengers, depending on how seats are configured. Delta advertises 132 seats on its planes..
Six airlines serve the Tri-Cities Airport.
- Allegiant Air flies to Las Vegas and Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.
- Avelo Air flies to Burbank, Calif.
- Delta Air Lines flies to Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Seattle.
- Alaska Airlines flies to Seattle and Los Angeles.
- United Airlines flies to Denver and San Francisco.
- American Airlines, which began flying to Pasco in 2024, flies to Phoenix-Sky Harbor International.
The Tri-Cities Airport set a new passenger record in 2024 with 478,000 passengers boarding flights, breaking the pre-pandemic record of 391,000, set in 2019.
2025 is shaping up as another record year, with passenger numbers running an average of 12% higher in the first three months of the year.
Go to flytricities.com
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 11:57 AM.