Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau launched its new Automated Passport Control (APC) system on February 2, 2015, while officials of the airport were in Denver meeting airline delegates to secure new air connections during Routes Americas. The new technology will permit US-bound travellers to be processed up to four times faster.

Officials expect the new technology – available in only one other airport in the Caribbean – to go a long way in slashing wait times, improving the airport’s efficiency and ultimately providing a more enjoyable experience for millions of visitors passing through the US pre-clearance facility at LPIA.

Provided by Vancouver Airport Authority, BorderXpress Automated Passport Control is a self-service kiosk technology, which enables US and Canadian passport holders and other eligible travellers to complete a portion of the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) inspection process electronically, expediting the border clearance process.

“APC will greatly improve our ability to process passengers through the airport. The demand for the destination continues to grow and with more than 3.2 million passengers traveling through LPIA on an annual basis, we want to ensure that their experience at our airport is a positive one,” said Vernice Walkine, president and chief executive officer at Nassau Airport Development Company.

“Making the investment in 20 APC kiosks just makes sense from a passenger management perspective as the move will drastically reduce wait times in an area impacting more than 80% of our total airport traffic. The technology will benefit the destination for years to come,” she added.

Aside from US and Canadian passport holders, passengers eligible to use the new technology include all US Lawful Permanent Residents and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approved passport holders – international travellers from 38 countries not requiring US entry visas for stays of 90 days or less.

The new system does not require travellers to complete a paper U.S. customs declaration form, as all questions are answered on the computer's touch screen. Travellers simply follow the on-screen instructions to scan their passport, answer the customs declaration questions, have their photo taken and receive a confirmation receipt, which they then show to a CBP officer to finalise processing.

Six new workers were also hired by NAD as APC Ambassadors to assist travelers with the use of the kiosks. The new technology required extensive training for NAD’s IT Department on the installation and maintenance of the 20 BorderXpress APC kiosks, and five Document Verification Officer (DVO) podiums provided by Vancouver Airport Authority’s Innovative Travel Solutions team.

Vancouver Airport Authority’s BorderXpress is the travel industry’s leading self-service border solution. Launched at Vancouver International Airport in 2012, BorderXpress kiosks are currently available at a total of 20 airport locations across North America and the Caribbean, including New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Los Angeles International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and the world’s two busiest airports, Chicago O’Hare International and Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta.