One of the country's busiest airports is using new technology to speed up international arrivals
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As home to some of the world's most popular theme parks and one of the country's busiest airports, Orlando visitors are no strangers to standing in long lines. But travelers transiting through Orlando International Airport (MCO) may experience a much shorter wait after their next international flight.
In partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and biometric solutions company iProov, MCO announced Wednesday that U.S. travelers on select international flights arriving can now access quicker reentry processing via new facial biometric screening. The initiative, called Enhanced Passenger Processing, should speed up processing and reduce wait times.
The airport plans to fully deploy the program in time for the busy summer travel period.
Related: When do you go through customs on international flights?
Typically, if you don't have expedited entry access through Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control, everyone in your group needs to show their passport and have their photo taken by a CBP agent when you arrive in the U.S. The agent then compares your photo to the photo in your passport to verify your identity.
However, EPP is designed to allow the CBP to "focus on the traveler and reduce the burden of administrative tasks," according to a press release from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
"Enhanced Passenger Processing uses facial biometrics to verify U.S. citizens' identities by matching their faces to images in passports, held in the CBP's database," according to the press release. CBP officers will still be on hand to assist as needed, but traveler verification and processing are fully automated.
"Technology is driving the way for more efficient passenger operations," Lance Lyttle, CEO of the GOAA (which manages Orlando International Airport), said in the press release.
Related: Best credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
"Innovative programs like EPP can significantly reduce processing times for passengers, without compromising security. MCO saw an increase of more than 800,000 international arrivals in 2024 than in 2023, many of them U.S. citizens who would benefit from this program. We deeply value our partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and thank them for their continued collaboration and support in helping us deliver a more seamless and secure experience for our international travelers," he added.
This isn't the first program the CBP has initiated to streamline international passenger processing upon entry to the U.S. In 2024, Dulles International Airport (IAD) planned to introduce electronic gates for Global Entry users. Passengers could enter their passport information and customs declaration via the Global Entry mobile app before processing through "e-gates" that would open after a quick facial scan.
The pilot program was halted before it got off the ground, with the CBP citing it "determined there may be alternative Global Entry solutions that might be more impactful." It's possible EPP is the solution they were referring to, though that was not expressly stated in the press release.
Participation in EPP is free, voluntary and does not require advanced enrollment. Travelers who wish to opt out of the EPP facial comparison system can still utilize the standard screening process with a CBP officer.
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