Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the first airport in the USA to commit to processing all arriving and departing international travelers with facial recognition technology.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) announced the joint efforts to advance the biometric exit mandate.
CBP built a facial biometric matching service to support airport and airline stakeholder integration for biometric exit and other passenger services. A facial biometric camera can be installed at an airline or airport departure gate without any significant changes to existing airport physical infrastructure. A biometric entry-exit system based on facial recognition is minimally disruptive to the flow of travel.
Currently, CBP is testing biometric exit at 13 major airports across the USA. The facial recognition verification process takes less than 2 seconds, with a 99% matching rate.
Phil Brown, CEO at GOAA, said, “We are committed to delivering a premiere travel experience to Orlando International Airport’s more than five million annual international passengers.
“By incorporating biometric technology into our entry and exit processes, safety, security and speed are optimized so customers can enjoy a more streamlined and comfortable journey through Florida’s busiest airport.”
Kevin McAleenan, CBP commissioner, added, “We are at a critical turning point in the implementation of a biometric entry-exit system, and we’ve found a path forward that transforms travel for all travelers.
“The valuable collaboration with stakeholder partners like GOAA has resulted in real momentum and it has brought us to where we are today, the first fully biometric entry-exit deployment at an airport.”