Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) says that next week the airport will begin a 45-day pilot program of biometric screening technologies at three international gates to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) process departing passengers.
Biometric screening verifies travelers’ identities by cross-checking facial scans with photos already on file with the federal government and CBP has been mandated by federal law to use biometric exit screenings for foreign nationals. The rules exclude Canadian citizens, who don’t require a visa to enter the U.S., as well as diplomatic and government visa holders.
“Working with our partners at CBP and our airlines will ensure our continued dedication to safety and security,” says Chellie Cameron, PHL CEO.
The pilot program will look at three types of biometric systems – veriScan, NEC and SITA – and will be conducted at gates A15, A16 and A17 for select outbound international flights on Qatar, British Airways, Lufthansa and American Airlines.
PHL’s biometric exit technologies pilot will also include the first-ever test of digital instruction , with Synectecmedia ReadySeeGo digital signage totems providing multimedia, bilingual content to create passenger awareness of the biometric cameras and provide instructions for their use.
