Biometric Automated Kiosks Help Streamline US Customs and Immigration Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport
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Abu Dhabi International Airport has streamlined its popular United States Customs and Immigration preclearance program, authorized by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, by installing new automated passport control (APC) kiosks from the aviation technology specialists at SITA. The self-service kiosks use advanced biometric technology to process passengers securely in less than 60 seconds, SITA states.
The project was a collaboration between SITA, the CBP, Abu Dhabi Airports and Etihad Airways.
“For airports like Abu Dhabi, which are experiencing strong passenger growth, these kinds of automated solutions are becoming increasingly important to help manage greater volumes of passengers securely and efficiently.”-Hani El-Assaad, SITA Middle East
“Since its opening in January last year, US preclearance has been extremely popular with passengers flying from Abu Dhabi to the United States where they arrive as domestic passengers,” says Richard Hill, Etihad Airways’ COO. “The process has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of automated passport control kiosks which allow passengers to pass through border controls quickly and seamlessly, significantly improving their travel experience.”
Passengers scan their passports for identification, with fingerprint validation and a camera on the kiosk which captures their facial biometrics. This information is cross-referenced to verify identity and checked against government watch lists. The kiosk touchscreen prompts passengers to answer key questions and, once cleared, prints out a receipt for passengers to show when they exit the customs hall.
“SITA is pioneering solutions in self-service border technology all around the world. Our APC kiosks use the latest biometrics to facilitate fast, accurate and secure passenger processing at the border,” says Hani El-Assaad, president of SITA Middle East, India and Africa. “For airports like Abu Dhabi, which are experiencing strong passenger growth, these kinds of automated solutions are becoming increasingly important to help manage greater volumes of passengers securely and efficiently.”
Abu Dhabi International Airport has reported record numbers of passengers for 2014 – 20 million inbound, outbound and transfers – marking an increase of 20 percent from 2013.