SITA, the technology company that provides JetBlue’s biometric exit checks at the boarding gate, today announced the success of its innovative technology used in the trial in Boston Logan International Airport and that it continues to work with the airline and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in this program.
The program, which started in June on flights from Boston’s Logan International Airport, has proven hugely popular with JetBlue customers. When given the option, the vast majority choose to “board in a snap” by simply stepping up to a camera without having to show a boarding pass, passport or any other papers.
SITA’s biometric scanning technology has proven to be very accurate with close to 100% match-rate contributing to an efficient, pleasant and seamless experience. With this improved boarding JetBlue customers enjoy a better overall customer experience.
Joanna Geraghty, Executive Vice President Customer Experience, JetBlue, said: “SITA’s role as our technology partner helped us bring this innovative approach to boarding from an idea to reality. SITA was able to quickly and effectively support both our requirements and the specification of CBP. We could not be happier with the results of this trial and hope to work with SITA in future iterations of our self-boarding program.”
Randy Pizzi, SITA President, Americas, said: “SITA’s collaboration with JetBlue and CBP has resulted in this unique integrated biometric exit check and self-boarding solution. The results to date have been very positive with the vast majority of JetBlue customers choosing to use it. This acceptance is in line with our experience and the results of 2017 SITA Passenger IT Survey, which shows that not only do passengers prefer to use technology but when they do it boosts satisfaction rates.
“The accuracy and speed of the system shows how SITA’s technology can provide a new way for airlines to bring value to their customers. Over the coming months we will work with JetBlue and Government agencies to extend the use of this innovative and passenger-friendly technology. We look forward to continued progress together.”
John Wagner, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said: “Working with industry partners like JetBlue allows us to explore the best use of technology to implement biometric exit checks while improving the passenger experience. The integrated and frictionless solution devised with the airline and SITA is proving a success for everyone – the airline, the passengers and CBP. We look forward to continued work with JetBlue and SITA.”
SITA provides self-service solutions at every step of the passenger journey from check-in to boarding at airports across the world. More than 165 airlines use its passenger processing applications and its common-use systems board more than 100 million passengers per year. Today SITA provides border management solutions to more than 40 Governments across the Americas, Asia, Europe, The Middle East and Africa.
