As part of an initiative to strengthen its border control by using biometric technology, the Federal Government of Mexico has introduced SITA’s automated border control kiosks at three of the country’s airports.
One hundred kiosks have been rolled out at the airports in Mexico City, Cancun and Los Cabos, which are operated by Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México (AICM), Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) and Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP). All three airports are major players when it comes to catering for low-fare and regional carriers and the kiosks are expected to securely process close to 8 million arrivals in the first year alone.
“As visitor numbers at international airports grow, the need for migration agents grows as well, but we have the technology to help us overcome that challenge,” said Enrique De la Madrid, secretary general, SECTUR, the Mexican Ministry of Tourism. “This automation will ensure security and facilitate the arrival of visitors to the country,” he continued.
While the border control kiosks will initially be used to securely identify passengers as they enter the country, in time, they will facilitate the full admission process for Mexican citizens and non-citizens who do not require a visa for entry.
Commenting further on the rollout of the new kiosks, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, secretary general, the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation, said: “The installation of these kiosks represents another example of the implementation of state-of-the-art technology in Mexico, aimed at preserving the safety of people and their goods, as well as facilitating activities related to aviation.”
Referencing how SITA’s border technology increases security and efficiency by enabling governments to clear large numbers of passengers in record time, Gerardo Garcia, commissioner to the National Institute of Immigration (INM) said: “By automating the arrival process using SITA’s biometric kiosks, we will improve the speed and accuracy of checks of passengers arriving in Mexico.”
