Technological advances are continuing to show that biometric data is the future of travel, from CAT-2 scanners to the upcoming EES system. Now, sources are reporting that American Airlines is furthering this notion after being the first carrier at JFK Airport to implement the new EPP (Enhanced Passenger Processing) facial recognition system, alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“CBP is committed to enhancing national security while streamlining lawful travel,” said CBP’s Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino. “By leveraging advanced technologies and mobile applications, we are transforming inspections at airports into a seamless, touchless process, enabling faster risk identification and efficient processing of legitimate visitors.”
What is EPP?
EPP, which stands for Enhanced Passenger Processing, is a new biometric screening system that matches travelers’ live image with their passport photo to streamline reentry times into the United States.
This provides a traveler’s complete customs assessment, including biometric confirmation, eligibility, and enforcement before they reach the CBP officer.
EPP is only available to U.S. citizens and participation is voluntary.
Which airports use EPP?
According to CBP, EPP is available to U.S. citizens at:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Cross Border Xpress (CBX)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Dublin Airport (DUB)
JFK Airport has yet to be included in the official CBP release.
EPP at JFK Airport
American Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have debuted EPP at JFK’s Terminal 8.
Benefits of EPP at JFK Airport
There are a multitude of benefits to the EPP system, such as:
- Contactless and convenient
- Expedited processing time
- No pre-enrollment required (simply voluntary)
- Compliant with security standards
- Supports airport modernization
Learn more about how the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are working towards time-saving tools here.