b'70 MIA SECURITY Eligible U.S. citizens arriving on international flights can choose to use biometric facial recognition technology for automated passport screening. This and other flexibilities simplified MIAs implementation,Broader Digital Transformationnotes Alonso. The recently added Enhanced Passenger Processing program CBP developed EPP to augment and automate traveleris just one part of MIAs larger strategy focused on smart airport processing by reconfiguring data flows and leveraging existingoperations and long-term scalability.systems to automatically capture travelers faces, verify identity,International travel at MIA is projected to continue its upward conduct standard primary system vetting, confirm the travelertrend. EPP allows MIA and CBP to scale capacity digitally rather and create a biometric cross-reference record in CBP systems,than physicallyand maintain a consistent traveler experience he explains. At MIA, CBP, airport officials and SITA coordinatedeven as volumes increase, says Cuti. It represents the future to ensure a smooth launch by proactively testing, training,of border processing: secure, data-driven, flexible and traveler-[making] queue changes and updating technology. centric. It enables CBP to better protect the border and gives In the end, only limited facility modifications were needed.MIA a competitive advantage as a global gateway.Minor changes were made to the queueing to ensure travelersThe deployment at MIA seems to reflect broader trends move through the EPP process more quickly, Alonso notes. across the continent. According to SITAs latest annual CBP and MIA emphasize that collaboration was critical to thebenchmark report, 53% of North American airlines are investing success of the deployment. in biometric and digital identity management, while nearly 60% This was a true partnership, he adds. CBP and MIAhave implemented touchless passenger flow technologies.aligned on shared objectives: security, efficiency and passengerAccording to Shawn Gregor, SITAs president for the experience. From facility design to data integration and staffingAmericas, Enhanced Passenger Processing is setting a new models, both organizations worked side by side to ensurestandard for efficiency at the border by using biometrics to make the system met operational, regulatory and customer servicearrivals smoother, faster and more secure for everyone. It can requirements. also easily scale over time to additional terminals and to handle increased capacity, he adds. March | April 2026AirportImprovement.com'