Vancouver Airport Authority honored for its self-service border control solution

Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) announced it has won a PwC Canada 2019 Vision to Reality (V2R) award in the Builder category for its self-service border control solution BorderXpress. V2R recognizes and celebrates forward-thinking organizations in Canada.

BorderXpress uses a two-step process to expedite the border clearance process, reducing passenger wait times by more than 60 per cent. It is fully accessible to persons with disabilities, can be configured with up to 35 different languages and can process any passenger, including families travelling as a group. BorderXpress technology was developed by Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS), an independent business unit within Vancouver International Airport.

“We are honored to be considered a leader in innovation for our BorderXpress solution,” says Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “YVR has gone from identifying a universal problem at our own airport with border processing to building a locally-based product that it is now the global market leader.”

As the winner of the Builder category, Vancouver Airport Authority had to meet several requirements, including having revenue between CA$51 million and CA$1 billion, as well as being Canadian controlled or headquartered in Canada. The organization also had to demonstrate that it was actively innovating to improve product quality and find service efficiencies to help break through to the next level.

“Technology plays a critical role in modernizing border management so that we can meet the needs of tomorrow’s traveler,” comments Steve Hankinson, Vice President, Innovation and Planning, Vancouver Airport Authority. “At ITS, we have the experience needed to deliver a solution that is guaranteed to succeed – our technology is built by an airport, for airports. The recognition in receiving the Vision to Reality award further drives this home.”

ITS reports that since 2009 it has sold over 1,600 kiosks at 44 airport, seaport and onboard sites around the world, helping more than 250 million passengers clear the border safely and securely. BorderXpress was recently updated to meet the Canadian government’s expanded biometric screening requirements.

Article Topics

ABC gates  |  airports  |  biometrics  |  BorderXpress  |  Canada  |  Innovative Travel Solutions