The airline industry is undergoing tremendous changes. Higher capacity airplanes are being built, flights along major routes are increasing, and airports are expanding to meet growing travel demands. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), projects that global travel will grow 4.1 percent per year over the next 20 years, from 3.3 billion passengers in 2014 to 7.3 billion in 2034.
More travelers present airports with new business opportunities, along with greater security challenges.
Enhanced security measures typically mean longer passenger lines and wait times. How can airports maintain the highest security standards without compromising throughput and convenience? Next-generation iris-recognition biometric systems can enhance security while improving passenger experience.
Enhanced Airport Security
It is already challenging for security and border agents to individually verify a traveler’s identity against documentation. Travel growth will further strain security operations, especially in legacy airports with infrastructure limitations.
Over the past decade, global airports have incorporated biometrics to increase security and automate the process. Biometrics offers the ability to accurately authenticate identity based on individual characteristics—the “things you are,” such as fingerprints, voice, and iris patterns—making it more reliable than passports or ID cards alone (the “things you have”). Among biometrics, iris provides exceptional accuracy and reliability. Each iris has an abundance of distinctive identifying characteristics, resulting in one of the lowest false accept rates of any biometric.
Increased Throughput
Although highly accurate, traditional biometric systems tend to be slow and cumbersome for passengers. They add extra steps to the security process, causing delays. Today’s next-generation iris-recognition solutions can quickly enroll and verify users in a matter of seconds.
For example, SRI’s IOM PassPort SL™ walk-through system has a processing speed of 30 people per minute at a standoff distance of up to 10 feet. Users simply walk through at a natural pace.
Integrating easy-to-use biometric solutions into airport security checkpoints will allow enrolled passengers to bypass traditional queues without stopping to confirm documentation at a kiosk or speak with a border agent.
Improved Passenger Experience
In addition to increasing security and throughput, iris biometric solutions in the terminal create a convenient passenger experience. Airports can differentiate themselves as they compete to be the preferred hub for regional and international travelers. Automation and shorter lines give passengers a faster path through security, providing more time to dine, shop and relax before flights. Frequent fliers may demonstrate loyalty to the hubs that offer them the best travel experience.
SRI is developing new iris solutions for several pilot programs in one of the world’s busiest airports, which is committed to creating a more secure, efficient and pleasant travel environment for its passengers.
Visit SRI’s booth #2080 at the upcoming Passenger Terminal Expo in Paris for live demonstrations of our new gate module with face capture, dual-iris recognition and passport-scanning capabilities.
Later that same week I will be presenting on “The Challenges of Border Control and Biometric Identification Systems” at the Future of Borders GDRFA International Conference in Dubai. If you are attending either conference, please stop by to explore how next-generation biometrics solutions can meet your needs.
* * * * *
Meet SRI at booth #725 at the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Annual Conference and Expo.
