Cyprus airports add biometric kiosks for entry and exit processing

Hermes Airports Ltd. is installing 74 BORDEREXPRESS kiosks from Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR’s) Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) at Pafos International Airport and Larnaka International Airport in Cyprus t expedite the border clearance process. The companies say the implementation will be the first permanent entry and exit border control kiosks in Europe.

Travelers can use the self-service biometric kiosks to complete either entry or exit processes by having their travel documents scanned, answering questions, and confirming their identity with facial verification. Accepted travel documents include traditional passports, electronic passports, and EU identity documents. Travelers then take the receipt provided by the kiosk to a border services officer to complete the process.

“As the demand for air travel continues to increase, airports around the world must embrace and implement innovative technologies to solve critical passenger processing challenges,” says Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “BORDERXPRESS kiosks will increase efficiencies and improve the overall passenger experience at Pafos and Larnaka airports while enhancing safety and security within the European Union.”

The kiosks will be available to all passengers for exit processing, and for entry processing for EU citizens.
More than 1,500 BORDEREXPRESS kiosks are used at 41 airports and sea ports globally, and have processed more than 181 million passengers, reducing wait times by more than half, according to the announcement.

David Menzel of SITA and the Secure Journeys Working Group recently told Biometric Update that airport biometrics may have reached a turning point with investment following extensive government testing, while WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara told Biometric Update that her organization intends to move very quickly to establish interoperable standards for unique traveler identity. Airport IT spending is projected to reach $4.63 billion by 2023 as authorities implement biometrics and other technologies to deal with increasing passenger volume despite infrastructure constraints.

Article Topics

airport biometrics  |  biometrics  |  kiosk  |  passenger processing  |  travel and tourism