Honolulu airport selects SITA's Smart Path biometric screening tech

HONOLULU - Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) needed a technological way to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in fulfilling its congressional mandate for biometric passenger screening on exit from the U.S.  They found their solution from SITA in Geneva, Switzerland.

SITA’s biometric-enabled Smart Path has been implemented with 54 face pods across Terminals 1 and 2 which are available to all international passengers. The technology gives travelers a touchless process that further secures and streamlines international departures. If a traveler cannot be matched to a photo on record through Biometric Exit or chooses to opt out of the process, the traveler will proceed through the traditional inspection process consistent with existing requirements for departure from the U.S.

The SITA Smart Path has a proven 99.5% match rate. Travelers’ identities are confirmed by comparing a live photo to images the traveler has already provided to the government, such as passport and visa photos, all in a matter of seconds. 
 
With international travel recovering rapidly, SITA’s solution makes the screening process for departing international travelers more efficient. Using SITA’s Smart Path solution powered by NEC’s biometric face capture solution, passengers step up to a camera at the boarding gate to verify their identity and board in seconds. 
 
Edwin Sniffen, Director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, said: “We are thrilled to announce our adoption of the U.S. Exit Solution in partnership with SITA. This solution will help us support CBP’s congressional mandate while making the experience fast and efficient for our customers.”
 
Matthys Serfontein, SITA President for the Americas, said: “We have worked closely with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to support CBP’s mandate for biometric screening on exit. We are confident that SITA’s US Exit will greatly enhance the passenger experience at HNL while laying the foundation for an extended biometric passenger experience in the future.”
 
Jason Van Sice, NEC Corporation of America – Vice President of Aviation, said: “On behalf of NEC, we are excited to support aviation advancements in Hawaii in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and SITA. Together, SITA and NEC have consistently demonstrated our expertise in similar projects worldwide, highlighting how our joint automation capabilities can elevate customer experiences (CX), enhance operational efficiency, and increase security measures.” 
 
HNL is the largest airport in Hawaii, serving 21 airlines and over 18 million departing passengers annually.