SACRAMENTO, Calif., - The Sacramento International Airport (SMF) in Sacramento, Calif., sought a facial biometric recognition technology for screening its international passengers. They found their solution from Amadeus Facial Biometrics in Madrid, Spain. The technology will be deployed at select international boarding gates. This technology will changes the process of verifying traveler identities by comparing live photos to the traveler’s existing passport or visa photo in secure U.S. Department of Homeland Security systems. The facial biometrics process is voluntary for U.S. citizens.
The Amadeus Facial Biometrics technology will be deployed only for international flights. The integration of this technology is part of SMF's ongoing commitment to implementing technology solutions that make traveling easier and more convenient for passengers. The implementation of biometric screening, Amadeus says, will save time and reduce stress for travelers, as well as provide a secure, touchless departures process for identity verification.
Travelers who wish to opt out of the new biometric process may notify an airline official or a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer as they approach the departure gate. These travelers will be required to present a valid travel document for inspection by the gate agent and they will be processed consistent with existing requirements for departure from the United States.
To implement the technology at SMF, the airport’s management will work closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and its airline partners. The deployment of the biometric screening will be done in phases, with the first set of four gates already operational, and the remaining gates to be installed in the future.
Betros Wakim, SVP Airport & Airline Operations Americas, Amadeus, said: “Sacramento joins other leading airports in the US that are harnessing the unique qualities of facial biometric verification to enhance the passenger experience. At Amadeus we are working with a growing number of airports and airlines to build biometric identity technology into different stages of the airport experience, from check-in to bag drop and also boarding. Where possible, we advocate for a cloud approach so different airlines can be easily integrated with an airport’s biometric infrastructure. Biometrics is poised to be one of the defining aviation trends of 2023.”
