CLEAR's TSA PreCheck Expansion Hits 58 Airports Nationwide — Is Charlotte Douglas (CLT) Next?

Travelers nationwide are asking a critical question: Can I get TSA PreCheck at my local airport through CLEAR? As the company announced in March 2025, CLEAR has aggressively expanded its role as an official TSA PreCheck enrollment provider, opening five new airport locations and bringing its total portfolio to 58 sites across the United States. But for those flying through Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), the answer remains unclear—at least for now.

The Airport Enrollment Boom: Where CLEAR Is Adding TSA PreCheck Access

In 2025, CLEAR made a strategic push to democratize TSA PreCheck enrollment by launching enrollment centers at five additional airports. The newly added airports represent key travel hubs across America: Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) in Florida, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Maryland, Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Michigan, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona, and Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon.

This expansion brings CLEAR’s total TSA PreCheck enrollment footprint to 58 locations, with the company committing to further growth throughout 2025 and into 2026. Extended operating hours at many locations—typically 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily—have been designed to accommodate travelers’ busy schedules. The rollout reflects CLEAR’s mission to simplify the enrollment process, removing friction from a traditionally cumbersome experience.

CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman Becker emphasized the company’s commitment to accessibility: “This expansion allows more U.S. travelers to enroll with CLEAR while enjoying the benefits of faster, more convenient airport security experiences.” The company continues to scan the country for additional high-traffic airports, but CLT’s inclusion in upcoming phases remains speculative.

Why 99% of TSA PreCheck Members Get Through Security in Under 10 Minutes

The push for enrollment expansion isn’t merely about convenience—it’s about transforming the travel experience itself. TSA PreCheck membership, administered through CLEAR’s network of enrollment centers, delivers tangible benefits that justify the investment. Members retain shoes, belts, and light jackets during screening, keep laptops and compliant liquids in carry-on bags, and navigate dedicated security lanes at over 200 U.S. airports served by nearly 90 airlines.

The proof is in the numbers: approximately 99% of TSA PreCheck members report waiting less than 10 minutes at airport security checkpoints nationwide. For frequent flyers and business travelers, this time savings accumulates to hours recovered annually. Since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched the Trusted Traveler program in December 2013, active membership has surged to more than 20 million participants.

CLEAR’s expansion of enrollment infrastructure directly supports this growth. By positioning enrollment centers at high-traffic airports like Phoenix Sky Harbor and Baltimore/Washington, CLEAR removes the primary barrier to entry: accessibility. Travelers no longer need to seek out isolated enrollment facilities; they can enroll during their airport visit.

Following the Money: Insider Trading and Institutional Activity

Beyond operational metrics, CLEAR’s (NYSE: YOU) expansion strategy is sending signals through the financial markets. Recent insider transactions reveal a mixed picture. In Q4 2024 and early 2025, company insiders executed three trades in CLEAR stock:

• Kenneth L. Cornick, President and CFO, sold 150,000 shares for an estimated $5.11 million
• Investments II LLC (an entity linked to early investors) sold 150,000 shares for approximately $5.11 million
• Adam Wiener offloaded 3,000 shares for roughly $75,000

These insider sales traditionally signal that company leadership may view current valuations as favorable exit points, though such transactions don’t necessarily reflect lack of confidence in long-term strategy.

Institutional investors, however, tell a more nuanced story. During Q4 2024, 190 institutional investors increased their CLEAR holdings while 161 decreased positions. The largest recent moves included:

• Delta Air Lines completely divested its 4.27 million share position, representing a $113.96 million exit
• Pacer Advisors dramatically increased holdings by 3.04 million shares (a 24,161% jump) worth $80.97 million, signaling aggressive new conviction
• Wellington Management Group added 1.42 million shares ($37.91 million) to its portfolio
• William Blair Investment Management initiated or significantly increased a position worth $37.70 million

These divergent moves suggest institutional investors are parsing through CLEAR’s operational strategy, with some—like Pacer Advisors and Wellington Management—betting heavily on the airport expansion thesis.

Market Consensus: What Analysts Expect from CLEAR’s Growth Strategy

Wall Street sentiment on CLEAR remains constructively tilted, though not universally bullish. Of the major analyst firms covering the stock, two have issued positive recommendations:

• Telsey Advisory assigned an “Outperform” rating on November 1, 2024
• Needham initiated a “Buy” rating on October 17, 2024

No firms issued sell recommendations, suggesting a floor of confidence in CLEAR’s business model. However, the absence of overwhelming bullish sentiment may reflect lingering questions about the company’s ability to maintain operational margins while expanding infrastructure costs.

The airport expansion strategy addresses a core criticism: limited geographic accessibility. By systematically adding enrollment locations, CLEAR tackles a long-standing complaint from potential customers unable to enroll conveniently. Each new airport—whether Phoenix, Baltimore, or Portland—represents a potential reservoir of new members.

Evaluating the Expansion: Opportunity and Risk

The strategic calculus behind this expansion contains both compelling elements and potential pitfalls. On the positive side, adding five new enrollment locations with extended operating hours directly increases addressable market size. As CLEAR approaches 58 airport sites, the company approaches what could eventually become national saturation across major travel hubs. The messaging also reinforces CLEAR’s positioning as customer-centric and responsive to market feedback.

However, the need for ongoing expansion might also signal that CLEAR was previously underserving certain markets, suggesting a reactive rather than prescient strategy. Some potential customers may have abandoned the TSA PreCheck enrollment process after struggling with availability, and rebuilding that trust requires time.

The company’s forward-looking statements acknowledge “risks and uncertainties,” and investors should recognize that airport expansion infrastructure requires capital investment and operational discipline. Each new enrollment center requires staffing, technology integration, and regulatory compliance with DHS protocols.

The Charlotte Question: Will CLT Get CLEAR?

Regarding Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), the answer to whether CLEAR will establish an enrollment center remains unknown based on available announcements. CLT ranked among the nation’s busiest airports in 2024-2025 but did not appear on CLEAR’s initial expansion list. The airport’s prominence suggests it could be a logical future addition to CLEAR’s network, particularly given the company’s stated commitment to “delivering convenience throughout 2025 and beyond.”

Travelers at CLT can currently enroll in TSA PreCheck through other authorized providers or wait for potential CLEAR availability announcement. The company’s aggressive expansion trajectory suggests additional locations will be announced in coming months.

The Bigger Picture: CLEAR’s Role in the Trusted Traveler Ecosystem

CLEAR’s expansion of TSA PreCheck enrollment represents more than infrastructure buildout—it reflects the growing value of seamless travel experiences in a fragmented aviation ecosystem. With 20 million TSA PreCheck members served by 90+ airlines across 200+ airports, the program has become foundational to how frequent travelers navigate U.S. airports.

By positioning itself as a convenient enrollment partner, CLEAR extends its identity verification platform’s relevance. The company has built a mission around creating “frictionless experiences,” and airport enrollment represents a direct embodiment of that philosophy. Each new airport location multiplies potential member acquisition vectors.

As CLEAR continues systematic expansion and capital market participants digest institutional trading patterns, the company faces execution risks but appears to have found strategic clarity: grow the enrollment footprint, capture incremental TSA PreCheck membership, and extend the identity platform’s influence throughout travel infrastructure.

For travelers at airports like SRQ, BWI, GRR, PHX, and PDX, the immediate benefit is clear. For those at CLT and countless other airports awaiting CLEAR’s arrival, the question lingers—but the company’s expansion trajectory suggests the wait may not be indefinitely long.