The volume of international air travelers in the U.S. is increasing by an estimated four percent per year. More passengers typically mean longer processing and more delays. However, some airports are cutting processing time by an estimated 33 percent with new Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks as they continue to be more widely deployed. These “self-serve” machines eliminate the paper declaration forms international passengers must complete upon entry to the U.S. thereby saving time for both travelers and customs agents.
According to the Customs and Border Protection Trade and Travel Report for 2017, APC kiosks were deployed to 15 additional airports in FY2017 and are available for use at 57 locations, including all major U.S. international airports and 12 Preclearance locations. More than 56 million travelers used APC kiosks last year, accounting for more than 40 percent of all air travelers entering the United States.
How it works
- Travelers from the U.S., Canada and the 38 Visa Waiver countries in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Electronic System for Travel Authorization program may use the kiosks.
- Operating in 13 languages, the kiosks guide travelers to scan their passports, take a photograph, answer questions and capture fingerprints (for non-U.S. citizens).
- The traveler gets a printed receipt and checks in with a CBP officer, who verifies the purpose and intent of the travel. Unless a problem is detected, passengers zip on to baggage claim and customs.
Improvements in skipping the lines
Currently, automated kiosks are speeding up screening at many airports in the U.S. and Canada. At the fifth busiest airport in the world - Los Angeles International Airport - 40 kiosks were initially installed. In the start-up period, the kiosks reduced wait times by 17.5 minutes (an average of 39 percent) for U.S. citizens and 11 minutes (18 percent) for foreign passport holders.
Most recently, LAX launched a new security checkpoint technology at Tom Bradley International Terminal in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration: facial recognition that can further enhance security. Facial recognition technology automates the identification and boarding pass verification process and travelers can choose whether they wish to verify their identity with the biometric technology.
This summer, San Diego International Airport opened its new 130,000-square-foot international arrivals facility at the Airport's Terminal 2 that processes passengers more efficiently by using biometric technology. San Diego International Airport is the first in the country to implement 100 percent biometric or facial recognition technology for passenger processing on international flights.
At Miami International Airport, there are now a total of 80 APC kiosks since the first kiosks were introduced in 2013. Kiosks are available in the North and South terminals in Miami and reportedly have contributed to a reduction in wait times of up to 40 percent at the CBP checkpoint since implementation.
Shaving off minutes
Airport and CBP officials also are partnering to speed processing at secondary CBP screening, baggage claim and Transportation Security Administration re-checkpoint areas with new solutions:
- Airport ambassadors: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, San Diego International Airport and others assign airport ambassadors to queue passengers, direct them to the next available kiosk, review their printed receipts and guide them to the appropriate CBP officer.
- Improved design: New terminal designs accommodate additional CBP secondary exit control booths and, possibly, new “baggage first” areas.
- Mobile applications: Smartphone apps may enable travelers to complete all clearance forms electronically while still on the aircraft.
Kiosks and related innovations give passengers an improved travel experience while optimizing the efficiency of CBP officers. APC kiosks have significant benefits for airports and their passengers in addition to saving time. Kiosks can also aid in expediting transaction times and reducing floor space requirements as the latest technologies continue to be introduced. Perhaps waiting in line at the airport can soon become a thing of the past.
Peter Aarons is West Division aviation director and associate vice president for HNTB Corporation. He has more than 25 years of experience in planning, development, design, program and project management and construction for airports.
