Vancouver International Airport installs first European permanent kiosks for Entry and Exit border control

Today, Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) announced the installation of 74 BORDERXPRESS kiosks at Pafos International Airport (Pafos) and Larnaka International Airport (Larnaka) in Cyprus. This marks a major milestone for the industry and ITS, as today’s announcement is the first implementation of permanent kiosks for Entry and Exit border control in Europe.

Hermes Airports Ltd, operating Pafos and Larnaka airports, is installing the kiosks to enable passengers to independently complete passport control procedures under the supervision of Hermes personnel and with the approval of Cyprus Police.

“As the demand for air travel continues to increase, airports around the world must embrace and implement innovative technologies to solve critical passenger processing challenges,” says Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “BORDERXPRESS kiosks will increase efficiencies and improve the overall passenger experience at Pafos and Larnaka airports while enhancing safety and security within the European Union.”

BORDERXPRESS uses self-service biometric-enabled kiosks to expedite the border clearance process without compromising security. The Entry and Exit process is the same, in that, at the kiosk, travelers select their language, scan their travel documents and answer a few simple questions. The kiosk also captures an image of each passenger’s face which can be compared with and verified against the photo in their electronic passport, though the kiosks do accept non-ePassports and EU Identity documents as well. Travelers then take their completed kiosk receipt to a border services officer. The Exit kiosks are available for use by all travelers while the Entry kiosks are only available to EU citizens due to government specifications.

“We are dedicated to establishing Pafos and Larnaka as industry leading airports, and our commitment to prioritizing both safety and passenger experience is paramount to this, especially as we seek to increase passenger traffic,” says Eleni Kaloyirou, Chief Executive Officer at Hermes Airports. “Following the success of a pilot project to test the efficiency of BORDERXPRESS for Exit control at Pafos airport, we’re delighted to build on our partnership with YVR’s Innovative Travel Solutions with the implementation of seventy-four kiosks at Larnaka and Pafos airports”.

BORDERXPRESS kiosks provide a modern and efficient experience, and are a smart choice for airports and governments as they help to reduce overall operating costs and allow airports to expand passenger traffic without having to add additional space or staffing resources. The kiosks also free up border security officers to focus more closely on enforcement and intelligence efforts.

This technology was developed by Innovative Travel Solutions, an independent business unit within Vancouver International Airport (YVR), named Best Airport in North America for the ninth consecutive year. The kiosks can be easily configured to meet the needs of governments around the world looking to reduce border line-ups at entrance and exit points and improve the safety and security of borders.

“With today’s announcement, Pafos and Larnaka airports are simplifying and enhancing the border Entry and Exit process for both airport personnel and travelers,” says Chris Gilliland, Director of ITS, Vancouver Airport Authority. “BORDERXPRESS has proven its success and efficiency at airports across Canada and the United States. Today, we are proud to be introducing our solution to the European market. This is a significant accomplishment for Innovative Travel Solutions, Hermes Airports, the Cyprus government and the industry, overall.”

With more than 1,500 kiosks in 41 airport and sea ports, BORDERXPRESS has processed over 181 million passengers in over 35 languages globally, and reduced passenger wait times by more than 50 per cent.