20 Self‐Service Kiosks Reduce Wait Times In US Customs Pre‐Clearance
Nassau, The Bahamas (February 2, 2015) Lynden Pindling International Airport’s Automated
Passport Control (APC) system officially went live today, allowing US‐bound travellers to be
processed up to four times faster.
Officials expect the new technology – available in only one other airport in the Caribbean – to
go a long way in slashing wait times, improving the airport’s efficiency and ultimately providing
a more enjoyable experience for millions of visitors passing through the U.S. pre‐clearance
facility at LPIA.
Provided by Vancouver Airport Authority, BorderXpress Automated Passport Control is a self‐
service kiosk technology, which enables U.S. and Canadian passport holders and other eligible
travellers to complete a portion of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) inspection process
electronically, expediting the border clearance process.
“APC will greatly improve our ability to process passengers through the airport. The demand for
the destination continues to grow and with more than 3.2 million passengers traveling through
LPIA on an annual basis, we want to ensure that their experience at our airport is a positive
one,” explains Vernice Walkine, President & CEO at Nassau Airport Development Company.
“Making the investment in 20 APC kiosks just makes sense from a passenger management
perspective as the move will drastically reduce wait times in an area impacting more than 80%
of our total airport traffic. The technology will benefit the destination for years to come.”
Aside from U.S. and Canadian passport holders, passengers eligible to use the new technology
include all U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents and Electronic System for Travel Authorization
(ESTA) approved passport holders – international travelers from 38 countries not requiring U.S.
entry visas for stays of 90 days or less.
The new system does not require travellers to complete a paper U.S. customs declaration form,
as all questions are answered on the computer’s touch screen.
Travellers simply follow the on‐screen instructions to scan their passport, answer the customs
declaration questions, have their photo taken and receive a confirmation receipt, which they
then show to a CBP officer to finalize processing.
On hand for today’s ribbon cutting ceremony was the Hon. Glenys Hanna‐Martin, Minister of
Transport & Aviation, who commended the partners at NAD, Ministry of Tourism, Nassau
Paradise Islands Promotion Board and the Airline Operators Committee for funding the kiosks.
Alan Sweeting, President of the Airline Operators Committee at LPIA, also expressed
enthusiasm for the impact of the BorderXpress kiosks on airline operations. (See quote sheet)
Six new workers were also hired by NAD as APC Ambassadors to assist travelers with the use of
the kiosks. The new technology required extensive training for NAD’s IT Department on the
installation and maintenance of the 20 BorderXpress APC kiosks, and five Document
Verification Officer (DVO) podiums provided by Vancouver Airport Authority’s Innovative Travel
Solutions team.
Also present at today’s ribbon cutting were Craig Richmond, President and CEO of Vancouver
Airport Authority, and George Casey, President and CEO of Vantage Airport Group, a YVR
subsidiary which manages LPIA.
Vancouver Airport Authority’s BorderXpress is the travel industry’s leading self‐service border
solution. Launched at Vancouver International Airport in 2012, BorderXpress kiosks are
currently available at a total of 20 airport locations across North America and the Caribbean,
including New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Los Angeles International, Fort Lauderdale‐
Hollywood International and the world’s two busiest airports, Chicago O’Hare International and
Hartsfield‐Jackson International in Atlanta
LPIA is only the second international airport to offer this technology.