Winnipeg International Airport has rolled out new automated border control (ABC) gates, supplied by Vision-Box, for passengers enrolled in the Nexus trusted traveler program. The airport hopes the new e-gates will speed up border clearance for arriving Nexus-enrolled passengers from international locations thanks to the use of automated biometric facial matching.
“Finding better ways to serve the needs of travelers is paramount for Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA),” noted Barry Rempel, WAA president and CEO. “Adding Vision-Box e-gates for Nexus users at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport not only enhances the customer experience but sets the foundation for future innovation and brings us one step closer to seamless, touchless passenger travel.”
According to Vision-Box, this is the first time that ABC biometric e-gates are being deployed to process Nexus-enrolled travelers instead of the regularly used Nexus kiosks. The GT-11 e-gates are part of its newest generation digital identity systems, which the company claims use the latest advances in biometric technology to securely and efficiently clear travelers . The supplier also notes that the gates offer a smaller footprint than the previous Nexus kiosks.
The upgrade at Winnipeg may also be the first time that a complete remote installation of border digital identity software has been successfully attempted and completed. According to Vision Box, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, work at Winnipeg Airport had to be stopped in February 2020 with only the physical installation of the e-gates completed. Logical setup of the software and system testing prior to going live was then completed entirely from the company’s Lisbon headquarters in close collaboration with CBSA using a dedicated secure connection.
“The ability to go live with a remote orchestrated installation is a major accomplishment,” remarked Miguel Leitmann, Vision-Box’s CEO. “Our team, along with CBSA and members of the Winnipeg Airport Authority, worked tirelessly across time zones, with frequent and intense communication, to make this happen. I couldn’t be prouder of this accomplishment and I congratulate all the agencies and people involved in making this project a reality.”