Identity management specialist Vision-Box is set to deploy one of the largest biometric boarding platforms in the USA at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 1 (T1), New York. When complete, passengers will be able to board their flight without needing to show their passports or boarding passes.
T1 is the home of 26 international carriers including Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines and Korean Airlines, all of which comprise the Terminal One Group Association (TOGA) – the terminal owners and leaders of a major transformation program that will create modern facilities and infrastructure to accommodate future growth.
The cooperation agreement will see a self-service biometric boarding solution implemented in T1 to offer a more convenient, faster boarding process. International travelers will be allowed to board their aircraft in just a few seconds using biometric eGates, which will recognize them by their face. The platform will match the live faces with previously enrolled and stored images.
Steve Rowland, executive director, TOGA, said, “Biometric self-boarding is one of our top priorities – improving the passenger experience and enhancing security and safety for all those who travel at JFK T1. We are proud to pilot this unique, paperless, biometric boarding process, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Vision-Box have been tremendous partners in this effort.”
After taking part in the Los Angeles International Airport proof of concept, Lufthansa has reconfirmed their support to seamless travel. Having been instrumental in the cooperation process so far, the airline will be the first to use the technology at T1.
Miguel Leitmann, Vision-Box CEO, said, “We believe JFK T1 is another leading example of delivery of a contactless travel solution able to modernize key aviation processes through our Orchestra platform.
“We empower airports to provide a seamless travel experience to their passengers and offer real value to their airline partners. Vision-Box is delivering to the US government the data required to control a safe and secure border.”
Igor Oliveira, technology and solutions director for Americas, Vision-Box, added, “This comprehensive solution includes self-boarding eGates, smart cameras and a secure orchestration platform that connects all assets, data and stakeholders to guarantee a seamless, frictionless process. We are grateful for the outstanding support by the partners of the initiative, namely the carriers.”