U.S. officials announced the introduction of Enhanced Passenger Processing at Bermuda’s airport for U.S. citizens, saying it uses a “sophisticated facial comparison technology to deliver a touchless, secure, and efficient inspection process for U.S. citizens” to “streamline the preclearance experience.”
A spokesperson said, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection [CBP] announces the introduction of Enhanced Passenger Processing [EPP] at Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport. This advanced process is designed to significantly improve security and streamline the preclearance experience for U.S. citizens departing for the United States.
“EPP leverages sophisticated facial comparison technology to deliver a touchless, secure, and efficient inspection process for U.S. citizens. CBP officers use auto-capture cameras and biometric facial comparison technology to rapidly verify identity and U.S. citizenship, conduct law enforcement vetting, and create a crossing record.”
“The launch of EPP at CBP Bermuda Preclearance marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to national security,” stated Marissa Singh, Acting Port Director of CBP Bermuda Preclearance.
“This technology not only significantly strengthens security measures but also delivers a faster and more modern departure experience for U.S. Citizens traveling to the United States. By leveraging cutting-edge capabilities, we are better equipped to identify and mitigate potential threats, allowing our officers to provide more focused attention to each traveler. With EPP in place, this will also streamline the movement of all other processing queues.”
A spokesperson added, “The EPP process verifies a passenger’s identity within seconds, allowing U.S. citizens to move securely through the inspection process and proceed directly to their boarding gate. It enhances security by enabling the officers to focus on the traveler interview rather than on administrative tasks.
“Key benefits include:
- “Expedites identify verification through enhanced biometric facial comparison, matching a traveler’s face to their passport in seconds.
- “Streamlines the inspection process, allowing for more focused interactions with CBP officers.
- “Significantly reduces queue times, giving passengers more time to enjoy their final moments in Bermuda.
- “Requires no prior application, making the service automatically available to U.S. citizens departing Bermuda.”
“The launch of EPP is another example of the robust security partnership between the United States and Bermuda and represents our commitment to a secure and smooth Preclearance experience for passengers,” stated Antoinette Hurtado, U.S. Consul General to Bermuda.
A spokesperson added, “Skyport, operators of L.F. Wade International Airport, invested in bringing EPP to Bermuda after seeing the system’s benefits firsthand during a visit to the U.S. Preclearance operation at Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport.”
“Skyport is committed to investing in technologies that support frictionless travel for all passengers. Enhanced Passenger Processing represents another step forward in modernizing the airport experience and delivering a smoother, more efficient journey for U.S. citizens departing Bermuda,” said Aaron Adderley, President of Skyport.
A spokesperson added, “While EPP is now operational for all U.S. citizens at Bermuda Preclearance, any U.S. citizen who prefers not to participate in the EPP process may notify an officer and they will be directed to the standard entry process.
“EPP is also available at other CBP Preclearance airports, including Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Dublin, and Aruba. Find more information on CBP Preclearance and Enhanced Passenger Processing.”
