Miami International Airport (MIA) has rolled out the largest single deployment of biometric passport screenings in the United States as it presses on with its US$9 billion investment programme.
Using SITA Smart Path technology, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) system will help manage passengers more securely and efficiently at one of the nations’ busiest airport hubs. Available to US, citizens, EPP uses biometric technology to match travellers’ identities against CBP data within three seconds.
Mobile and wireless-enabled, the biometric pods can be repositioned in line with passenger numbers to ensure optimal flow through the airport. Daniel Alonso, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director at Customs and Border Protection, commented:
CBP is actively expanding biometric processing at major U.S. ports of entry to enhance security and streamline the arrival process for travelers. Collaborations like the one at MIA are essential for ensuring secure and efficient borders while delivering a seamless experience for international travellers.
12 biometric face pods have been added across three of MIA’s passport control areas, the largest single deployment of the tech CBP has initiated so far.
Shawn Gregor, President Americas at SITA, added:
Miami is one of America’s busiest international gateways and the door to Latin America and beyond. This EPP launch is setting a new standard for efficiency at the border by using biometrics to make arrivals smoother, faster, and more secure for everyone, and can easily scale over time to additional terminals and to handle increased capacity.
SITA’s Air Transport IT Insights 2024 report found that nearly 60% of airports worldwide have already introduced touchless passenger processing to improve flows.
Join us at Aviation Festival Americas 2026 to hear Ralph Cutie, CEO of Miami International Airport, explain the airport’s investment strategy.
For more like this, see:
- Ken Pyatt on Miami Airport’s $9bn investment strategy
- ACI passenger survey highlights key trends for 2026 and beyond
- Emirates deploys biometrics at DXB for passport-free experience
