Miami International Airport (MIA) has launched biometric exit technology on Lufthansa’s service to Munich. The technology means passengers can now board using facial recognition rather than a boarding pass and passport.
“MIA continues to explore innovative ways of streamlining and expediting the travel experience for visitors to our community,” says Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “I look forward to seeing biometric exit technology expand throughout MIA and enhance the level of customer service for its passengers.”
Miami International Airport has launched biometric exit technology on Lufthansa’s service to Munich. The technology means passengers can now board using facial recognition rather than a boarding pass and passport.
Through a partnership between MIA, Lufthansa, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and IT provider SITA, a simple photograph taken at Lufthansa’s boarding gate is used to confirm passengers’ identities and their authorisation to travel. The facial recognition verification process takes less than two seconds with a 99% matching rate, according to CBP. MIA expects to launch biometric boarding with additional airlines this year.
“CBP is leading the transformation of the travel experience, but we could never do this alone,” says CBP Miami Port Director Christopher Maston. “Our collaboration with our partners at the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Lufthansa and SITA has resulted in real momentum toward enhancing both traveller safety and convenience at MIA. Collectively, we are making history and delivering clear and undeniable benefits to travellers.”
The launch of biometric exit at MIA follows the airport’s February 2018 opening of America’s first all-biometric entry facility at Concourse E, which screens all international arrivals via facial recognition. The facility has decreased processing times by as much as 80% for participating airlines.
“We are proud to partner with CBP and SITA to provide this cutting-edge technology for Lufthansa passengers at MIA,” says Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO. “Biometrics is one of the many approaches we are taking to modernise our airport infrastructure, to make the travel experience as seamless as possible.”
SITA and MIA have already partnered on a number of innovative travel experience solutions, including Mobile Passport Control and MIA Airport Official, the airport’s mobile app.
