Information & communication technology provider for the air transport industry
| Company | SITA |
|---|---|
| Date | 27.05.2015 |
US airport and airline executives share best practices, address growing demand for border efficiency and security
SITA, the global provider of border security and IT solutions to governments, airlines and airports, today announced the formation of the SITA Border Automation User Group. The inaugural meeting, hosted by Orlando International Airport May 20-21, explored how to drive greater efficiency and passenger satisfaction as the demand for automation grows.
The most recent SITA Passenger Trends Survey found that U.S. air travelers rank time-consuming security procedures among the top two areas for improvement. This frustration is likely to worsen, as international travel to the U.S. is projected to grow by up to 6 percent each year over the 2014-2019 timeframe.
Paul Houghton, SITA President, Americas, said: “SITA is committed to working together with our customers and early adopters of border automation technology to deliver the best passenger experience. Our automated passport control (APC) Kiosks, which are already widely used in the US, and our Automated Border Control Gates, are part of an end-to-end suite of solutions designed to facilitate and provide a more secure passenger journey throughout the airport and across borders.”
SITA brought together airlines, airports and government representatives from across the US, along with experts in border technology, to explore ways to improve the passenger experience while maintaining security. The two-day session included discussions on best practices for integrating next-generation technology such as beacons, mobile apps and Wi-Fi, as well as how to optimize Federal Inspection Station (FIS) design.
John Newsome, Director, Information Technology, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said: “GOAA began processing international travelers from visa waiver countries with Phase 3 SITA APC Kiosks more than a year ago. We reduced the time required to complete the immigration process for those travelers to 90 seconds, or often much less, reducing stress for our travelers and impact on our facilities. Since the launch and based on the measured improvements, GOAA has added kiosks to both of our FIS facilities, and we are eager to continue improving the experience for international travelers by partnering with SITA to drive further border automation innovation.”
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.
Around 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. And more are coming on stream; by the end of 2015 SITA will have provided close to 450 kiosks to 11 international airports, around half of all APC kiosks in use.
