Returning to New York from a long international flight usually ends with the “JFK shuffle”—that grueling hour-long wait in the passport line.
But the New Terminal One (NTO) just announced a game-changer that is set to fix it for good.
In a massive partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and biometric leader iProov, JFK is launching Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP).
The goal is to turn a 40-minute wait into a 2-second “glance and go.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
What makes this a game-changer?
Unlike Global Entry, which requires a $100 fee and a background check, this new biometric system is:
- FREE: No hidden costs or subscriptions.
- NO ENROLLMENT: You don’t need to sign up in advance. If you’re a U.S. citizen, the tech recognizes you instantly by matching your face to your passport photo on file.
- ACCESSIBLE: The system is designed to process families together and is fully optimized for travelers using wheelchairs.
“Travelers are crossing the border in a few seconds, without needing to wait in long lines or fumble for documentation,” sayid Andrew Bud, CEO of iProov in a press release last week.
It’s already working at Terminal 8
While this is massive news for the south side of the airport, some New Yorkers may have already seen this tech in action.
Last year, American Airlines became the first to deploy EPP at JFK’s Terminal 8, and the results were a major win for speed.
This new expansion means that same “express lane” experience is coming to the millions of passengers flying through JFK’s newest international hub.
Part of a $19 billion transformation
This isn’t just a software update; it’s part of the massive $19 billion overhaul of JFK.
The New Terminal One will be a 2.6 million-square-foot behemoth—nearly the size of LaGuardia’s two new terminals combined.
The first phase, including the arrivals hall and 14 brand-new gates, is slated to open later this year.
It will be the new home for over 20 global giants, including Air France, KLM, Etihad, Korean Air, and Qatar Airways.
Can you opt out?
Yes, if you’re not ready to let a camera handle your entry, you can still choose the standard CBP manual inspection process.
But as Francis J. Russo, CBP Director for the NY Field Office, notes, this tech allows officers to focus on “higher-risk travelers” while the rest of us get home to our beds faster.