DFW Airport is working with American Airlines and Customs and Border Protection to help people arriving on international flights move more quickly through Customs. CBP says technology and mobile tools can reduce the amount of time spent going through the process.
"Our enhanced enforcement posture not only makes every single American safer, it also saves travelers time and money," says Diane Sabatino, CBP's acting executive assistant commissioner.
"Enhanced Passenger Processing" photographs passengers and can compare the picture to someone's passport or driver license. CBP says the technology can verify a traveler's identity, citizenship status and check for law enforcement issues.
"At the same time, the officer remains engaged with the traveler for additional questioning or even potential referral," Sabatino says. "The entire process is touchless, efficient and secure."
Sabatino says the "results speak for themselves." Since launching at DFW Airport, she says waits for American citizens have dropped 25%, and non-citizens have seen maximum wait times drop from 50 minutes to 35. She says Enhanced Passenger Processing is now used at ten other airports.
"DFW is leading in the deployment of biometric technologies including facial recognition systems which have expedited entry procedures while meeting the highest standards for privacy and data protection," says DFW Airport Chief Executive Chris McLaughlin.
McLaughlin says international service at DFW has grown 25% over the past ten years "underscoring our role as a growing global gateway." By 2030, he says DFW is projected to serve seven million international passengers a year.
"Much of our growth is due to the international strength of American Airlines," he says. "They alone have launched nine new international destinations in the past year."
McLaughlin says airlines have added 14 additional destinations since last year including the addition of three carriers: Cathay Pacific, EVA Air and Fiji Airways.
American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, says it is running its biggest schedule ever at DFW this summer. President Jim Moses says about two thirds of its passengers at the airport are connecting to other cities. He says American flies to 230 cities in 30 countries from DFW.
"That's why it's more important than ever that we invest in enhanced technology that makes travel easier for our customers to navigate while preserving the security of air travel," he says.
DFW's McLaughlin says the airport, American Airlines and CBP have been working to prepare for a spike in passengers during the World Cup next year. North Texas will host nine matches, more than any other city.
"We've been planning collectively, as a community, for years," he says. "All eyes will be on this region during the World Cup, and we're doing everything we can to make sure we're prepared for it. This is just the beginning for DFW. Over the next five years, we'll be adding to our facilities, Terminal A, Terminal C, a new Terminal F, the addition of many, many new gates with international capabilities. Everything we're doing today, everything we're preparing for FIFA next year will be a kickstart to what will happen at DFW over the next five years."