Miami International Airport (MIA) said this week that it will work with global information technology solutions company SITA to introduce biometric boarding by the end of 2023, enabling passengers to board international flights with just a photo.
When installation is fully completed at MIA’s 130-plus gates next year, the project will be the largest implementation of biometric technology at any U.S. airport.
Using SITA’s Smart Path solution, which leverages NEC’s biometric identity platform, MIA passengers will simply step up to a camera at the boarding gate and their picture will be used to confirm their identities and their authorization to travel within seconds.
MIA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) first tested biometric boarding in 2019 during a pilot program with select airlines, with a significant improvement in boarding times.
“We look forward to elevating our passenger experience with this state-of-the-art boarding solution,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA director and CEO. “MIA is now the busiest U.S. 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.”
