Delta Air Lines, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and the TSA have unveiled the first biometric terminal in the USA at the hub’s Maynard H Jackson International Terminal (Terminal F).
Customers flying direct to an international destination on Delta, Aeromexico, Air France, KLM or Virgin Atlantic Airways can use facial recognition technology from curb to gate.
This includes check in at the self-service kiosks in the International lobby; drop checked baggage at the counters in the international lobby; serve as identification at the TSA checkpoint; board a flight at any gate in Terminal F; and go through CBP processing for international travelers arriving into the USA.
Touchpoints throughout the terminal in Atlanta started going online in mid-October and nearly all 25,000 customers who travel through ATL Terminal F each week are choosing this optional process, with less than 2% opting out.
Gil West, Delta’s COO, said, “Delta’s successful launch of the first biometric terminal in the USA at the world’s busiest airport means we are designing the airport biometric experience blueprint for the industry.
“We’re removing the need for a customer checking a bag to present their passport up to four times per departure – which means we’re giving customers the option of moving through the airport with one less thing to worry about, while empowering our employees with more time for meaningful interactions with customers.”
Delta plans to scale the end-to-end airport biometric terminal experience to the global airline’s hub in Detroit, Michigan, in 2019.