American Airlines has introduced biometric facial recognition at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to speed up of the boarding process for its international passengers.
Currently in place for select international departures from DFW Terminal D, the new technology is a one-step process that can scan and identify a customer’s identity with the U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cloud-based database.
The system instantly matches the image against the passport photo already on file, and, if it sends back a yes, the customer is cleared to board within seconds at the gate. Otherwise, the agent will simply manually clear the customer using the regular clearance process. Both the carrier and the CBP stress that no customer biometrics will ever be stored during this process.
“American is committed to ensuring that DFW remains a premier gateway,” says Cedric Rockamore, vice president of DFW hub operations for American. “As its largest hub, implementing new technology like biometric boarding gives us the opportunity to enhance the airport experience in partnership with CBP. This new technology allows us to provide a more seamless and modern experience for both our customers and team members.”
American says it plans to expand biometric boarding to nearly 75 international gates throughout Terminals A, B, C and D by the end of this year. The carrier adds that passengers with a U.S. passport may also choose not to use the new system and board with their regular boarding pass.
