Delta, CBP to pilot facial recognition exit screening at Atlanta, New York airports

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Delta will test new biometric exit immigration procedures and technology supplied by Vision-Box at New York-JFK and NEC at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport, for international flights this summer .

The pilot program is designed to improve CBP’s ability to record the departure of visitors by capturing customers’ biometrics upon exit of the United States at the same time they self-scan their boarding pass.

Delta’s eGate tests, powered by Vision-Box at JFK and NEC Corporation of America at ATL, confirms passenger identity using advanced facial recognition technology and Delta ticketing information in a single, automated and secure solution.

“Delta is always willing to partner with the CBP as it continues testing new technologies to improve its processes,” said Gil West, Delta’s chief operating officer. “Its spirit of innovation aligns with Delta’s as we continue pioneering our own biometric customer experience solutions to enhance the airport travel experience for customers while giving employees the ability to focus on higher-touch customer needs.”

At JFK, once the system successfully verifies their identity, the eGate will open for individual passengers to proceed to the boarding area. In Atlanta, a self-contained unit will capture and verify customer’s identity before the customer continues on to boarding.

All passenger data including biometric and biological information is securely managed by CBP.

The JFK pilot began earlier this week at gate B24, while the one-step process will begin in ATL at gates E10 and E12 later this summer.

The Atlanta pilot will build on a year-long partnership between Delta, NEC and CBP that has been testing facial recognition and boarding technology for exit screening at ATL gates F6 and F9.

“CBP has been working with our stakeholders to build a simplified, but secure travel process that not only meets the biometric exit mandate, but also aligns with CBP’s and the travel industry’s modernization efforts,” said John Wagner, deputy executive assistant commissioner at CBP’s Office of Field Operations. “We are happy to be working with partners, like Delta, to expand the use of facial biometric technology to create an innovative, more efficient travel experience for passengers.”

Last week, Delta announced it is testing its biometric boarding pass program at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, which allows eligible Delta SkyMiles members to use their fingerprints as proof of identity instead of displaying their boarding pass and hard copy ID at the Delta Sky Club.

Article Topics

airport biometrics  |  biometric exit  |  biometrics  |  CBP  |  Delta Airlines  |  facial recognition  |  NEC  |  pilot project  |  Vision-Box