Beyond extending eligibility to a greater number of travelers, the Phase 4 SITA kiosks feature enhanced embedded video, making it simpler and more intuitive for first-time users, and consistent with the Global Entry experience.
ATLANTA – SITA, the global provider of border security and IT solutions to governments, airlines and airports, announced that McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the first to deploy Phase 4.0 automated passport control (APC) kiosks, speeding more international travelers through the customs and border process. Now, business or tourist visa holders, Mexican travelers with border crossing cards, and airline crew members will be able to use the kiosks upon arrival in the U.S.
Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Director of Aviation, said: “McCarran welcomed nearly 43 million travelers in 2014 – the most since 2008 – with much of that growth coming from outside the U.S. We expect the volume of international travel will continue to rise, and offering the speed and convenience of SITA’s APC self-service kiosks for passport processing to a greater number of travelers will allow us to accommodate that growth while continuing to deliver an exceptional guest experience.”
McCarran first deployed SITA’s APC Kiosks in March, increasing efficiency at the border by allowing passengers to provide their travel document, biometric data and customs declaration prior to speaking to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Phase 4.0 increases eligibility from the previously established 38 “visa waiver” countries outlined by Customs and Border Protection to virtually all of McCarran’s international arrivals.
Beyond extending eligibility to a greater number of travelers, the Phase 4 SITA kiosks feature enhanced embedded video, making it simpler and more intuitive for first-time users, and consistent with the Global Entry experience.
Paul Houghton, SITA President, Americas, said: “SITA is helping airports worldwide deliver an end-to-end, hassle-free and secure passenger journey. Whether at check-in or upon arrival, automating routine and often time-consuming processes like passport control has proven to significantly cut wait times, enabling airports to improve operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction. In the U.S. our automated passport control kiosks have reduced wait times for passengers by as much as 40 percent.”
The need for more efficient and secure border processing will likely continue, as the National Travel and Tourism Office projects nearly six percent annual growth rates in international visitor volume to the U.S. over the 2014-2019 timeframe. Phase 4.0 will allow travelers from the countries with the largest total growth percentages – China (172%), Colombia (72%), India (47%), Brazil (43%), and Mexico (38%) – to process themselves through the kiosks.
SITA is a world leader in providing border control technology and has developed its border control solutions in close collaboration with border agency partners worldwide, as well as airlines, airports and industry groups. SITA’s iBorders portfolio provides the air transport community with a complete set of capabilities to transform border security and facilitate the travel experience through information, intelligence, optimized interactions with passengers and comprehensive insights to enhance every aspect of border operations.
More than 30 governments globally use SITA’s iBorders systems and capabilities to keep their borders secure and transform their border security operations. Many international airports in the USA, including JFK New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego and Tampa, have biometric immigration kiosks provided by SITA.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
