American Airlines and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently launched a new biometric clearance system at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. This system, called Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), utilizes facial recognition technology to match travelers’ facial images with passport photos stored in government databases. By implementing this contactless clearance tool at the JFK Airport’s Terminal 8, eligible U.S. citizens can now complete their entry procedures in seconds, cutting the overall clearance time by nearly half and significantly enhancing efficiency.
American Airlines became the first airline to introduce the EPP system at JFK Airport. Currently, about 45% of passengers at Terminal 8 are U.S. citizens, the only group eligible to use the EPP system. While this system differs from CBP’s existing Global Entry program, it offers rapid clearance without the need for pre-registration.
However, privacy and civil rights advocates express concerns that data collected through EPP could be used for immigration enforcement or surveillance purposes outside of the airport.
In response, CBP emphasizes that U.S. citizens’ facial photos will be deleted within 12 hours, and the system is strictly for customs clearance purposes. The activation of the EPP system aims to enhance operational efficiency, maintain border security, and improve the travel experience for passengers.
In addition to JFK Airport in New York, several major U.S. airports, such as Orlando, Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, and Seattle-Tacoma, have also adopted this system to streamline the clearance process and enhance security measures.