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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com New Providence
YVR's BorderXpress self-serve kiosks will speed up U.S. customs pre-clearance beginning in February Nassau, The Bahamas - Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) today announced its purchase of 20 Automated Passport Control (APC) self-serve kiosks to safely expedite the customs process for eligible passengers departing its U.S. pre-clearance facility and improve the overall passenger experience. APC kiosks will be available at NAS beginning in February 2015, making it only the second international airport with U.S. pre-clearance facilities to offer this technology. Provided by Vancouver Airport Authority's Innovative Travel Solutions team, the BorderXpress APC kiosks and technology have dramatically reduced customs wait times at 14 airports across North America, including New York's John F. Kennedy International, Los Angeles International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta. Instead of filling out a declaration card and taking travel documents to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, eligible passengers will proceed directly to one of the 20 kiosks. Travellers will simply follow the on-screen instructions to scan their passport, answer declaration questions, have their photo taken and receive a confirmation receipt, which they will show to a CBP officer to finalize processing. Vancouver Airport Authority studies have shown that BorderXpress APC kiosks reduce wait times by up to 89 percent when compared to the typical CBP primary inspection process. Eligible passengers include all U.S. and Canadian passport holders, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) and international travellers with Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) from 38 countries not requiring U.S. entry visas, including Australia, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. "With more travellers flocking to The Bahamas every year, we are delighted to add this service to the Nassau airport experience," says Vernice Walkine, President and CEO, Nassau Airport Development Company. "BorderXpress APC kiosks will complement our existing amenities and newly redeveloped terminal, allowing us to offer a truly world-class first and last impression to our customers. I'd like to recognize and thank our partners in this initiative including the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board and the international airlines operating out of LPIA, who've helped to fund the installation, operations and maintenance of the new processing system." The addition of BorderXpress to NAS will also help alleviate potential congestion resulting from the growth of new tourism properties in the islands, including the Baha Mar mega-resort, slated to open in 2015. "As an airport, we understand how important it is for people to get to their destinations quickly, efficiently and safely." Said Craig Richmond, President & CEO, Vancouver International Airport (YVR). "BorderXpress APC kiosks help airports process four times more passengers per CBP officer, to dramatically cut wait times; lower operating costs and improve the customs experience for travellers and airport staff alike." Photos Attached. Caption: BorderXpress Automated Passport Control Kiosks at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) will introduce 20 similar kiosks to enhance the passenger experience in the US Customs and Border Patrol during February 2015. About Lynden Pindling International Airport Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) is The Bahamas' premier international gateway. The country's busiest airport served more than 3.2 million visitors in 2013 and safely handled more than 80,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings. Managing partners, Nassau Airport Development (NAD) and Vantage Airport Group, recently completed a $409.5 million redevelopment project, transforming LPIA into a modern and efficient facility. The new airport complex has a total square footage of 606,000 with an additional one million square feet of aircraft operating surface. LPIA can now comfortably handle 5 million passengers annually. Operating 24 hours a day, the airport is served by 23 airlines flying to 11 international and 24 domestic destinations. For more information, visit www.nassaulpia.com. About Vancouver Airport Authority Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada's second busiest airport, YVR served 17.97 million passengers in 2013. Fifty-three airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to 110 non-stop destinations worldwide. A business unit of Vancouver Airport Authority, Innovative Travel Solutions specializes in developing and delivering reliable, industry-leading travel technology to enhance the overall passenger experience and airport performance. For more information, please visit www.yvr.ca.
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