Ontario International Airport has recently implemented a new system called Simplified Arrival, which aims to automate the process of international arrivals. This cutting-edge technology utilizes biometric facial recognition to quickly and accurately identify passengers, reducing wait times and improving the overall efficiency of the airport. With Simplified Arrival, travelers can expect a smoother and more streamlined experience from the moment they step off the plane. The system has been designed with security in mind, ensuring that only authorized individuals are granted access to restricted areas. This innovative approach to international arrivals is just one example of Ontario International Airport's commitment to providing a world-class travel experience for all passengers. As the airport continues to invest in new technologies and services, travelers can look forward to even more exciting developments in the future.
Ontario International Airport, located in Southern California, has implemented new technology called Simplified Arrival to reduce inspection wait times for arriving international passengers. This technology, operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), uses facial biometrics to automate the manual document checks required for admission into the United States.
Simplified Arrival Process
The Simplified Arrival process provides travellers with a touchless experience that enhances the safety and security of international arrivals. When international travellers arrive at Ontario International Airport, they will pause for a photo at the primary inspection point. CBP’s biometric facial comparison process will compare the new photo of the traveller to a small gallery of high-quality images that the traveller has already provided to the government, such as passport and visa photos. This enhanced process using biometrics only takes a few seconds.
Foreign travellers who have travelled to the U.S. previously will generally no longer need to provide fingerprints as their identity will be confirmed through the touchless facial comparison process. U.S. citizens and select foreign nationals who are not required to provide biometrics and who wish to opt out of the new biometric process may request a manual document check instead, simply by notifying a CBP officer as they approach the primary inspection point.
Implementation at Ontario International Airport
The implementation of Simplified Arrival at Ontario International Airport comes as the airport experiences record passenger volumes on its direct international flights to Taiwan, Mexico and Central America. Through the first eight months of this year, the number of international passengers flying into or out of ONT more than doubled, to nearly 260,000.
Partnership between CBP and Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
“At Ontario International Airport, we are proud to partner with CBP in providing arriving international passengers a more convenient travel experience while also enhancing the safety and security of the inspection process,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “As we expand our international travel options, Simplified Arrival will play a significant role in providing a more expedited and safe inspection process.”
CBP's Mandate and Partnership
CBP has a longstanding Congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens. While DHS completed biometric entry in 2004, CBP has been rolling out the Simplified Arrival process at international airports across the country to further secure and enhance entry into the United States with a technology upgrade.
“Simplified Arrival is a secure, efficient and intuitive process that delivers a seamless experience for travellers arriving into the United States,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “CBP is proud to partner with ONT in deploying an accurate, reliable technology to verify identity while protecting the privacy of all travellers.”
Overall, Simplified Arrival is a significant step forward in enhancing the safety and security of international arrivals while providing travellers with a more expedited and convenient experience at Ontario International Airport.
