September 6, 2024
by
Christopher Carey
Denver International Airport is implementing biometric facial recognition technology at 15 departure gates to speed up the boarding process for international flights.
The technology will allow passengers to board without presenting their passports to gate agents, making the process “more efficient and secure”.
Images are used solely for real-time verification and are deleted immediately after the boarding process, and airlines can also use the system to verify passengers against their lists without requiring physical or digital boarding passes.
“Our investment in this state-of-the-art technology underscores our strong commitment to supporting our airline partners and aligns with federal initiatives to advance secure and efficient air travel,” said Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport.
“The system matches travellers’ biometrics with stored biometric information within seconds.”
Passengers who prefer not to use the biometric system can opt out by notifying an airline official or a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. These passengers will need to present their travel documents for inspection and follow existing departure procedures.
Denver’s announcement is reflective of a wider trend across US airports, including those in cities like Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, where biometric technology is increasingly used to boost security.
Despite privacy concerns raised by civil liberties groups, officials emphasise that they adhere to strict privacy standards, including deleting photos of US citizens within 12 hours after the scan.
In 2004, Customs and Border Protection began collecting fingerprints and photos of non-US citizens during primary inspection at air ports of entry, and in 2016 the agency launched a pilot facial recognition programme dubbed the Departure Information Systems Test (DIST) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
By 2022, the Biometric Entry-Exit Program had been deployed for arrivals at 238 US airports, including all preclearance locations.
The programme has evolved to include partnerships with airlines, airports, and sea cruise lines to integrate biometric technology into existing travel processes.
A recent survey from industry group the U.S. Travel Association revealed that 79 percent of air passengers in the US support the use of biometrics at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints to confirm traveller identities.
Nine in 10 passengers also said they would be more likely or equally likely to support biometric use at TSA security checkpoints if it reduced the time it takes to get through security.
“By overwhelming margins, air travellers support TSA’s use of biometric technology at airports to strengthen security and improve the travel experience,” said Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO.
Image: Delta
