Miami International Airport (MIA) will soon be launching the largest rollout of biometric technology in the US to improve the passenger boarding process for international flights.
The recently approved contract will implement biometric boarding at all of MIA’s 130-plus gates, with installation excepted to be complete by 2023. The system will allow passengers to board their flights using touchless biometric technology, rather than handing their documents to an agent for inspection.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said:The launch of biometric boarding at MIA is the latest way that Miami-Dade County is leveraging technology to improve customer service and simplify operations. I am proud to see our airport lead the nation with this cutting-edge innovation that will streamline the boarding process for our passengers.
The system uses NEC’s biometric identity platform to rapidly confirm a passenger’s identity and authorisation to travel after they step up to a camera at the boarding gate. MIA and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) first tested this biometric boarding technology in 2019 during a pilot programme with select airlines. The pilot programme revealed significant improvements in boarding times, as the biometric technology allowed the airport to offer more efficient passenger services.
Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO saidWe look forward to elevating our passenger experience with this state-of-the-art boarding solution. MIA is now the busiest US airport for international travel and continues to set new records each month for passenger growth. Biometric boarding is one of the major steps we are taking to pave the way for additional growth in the years to come.
