New Zealand: Auckland Airport rolls out new scanners in move towards biometric screening

Auckland Airport has installed new scanning equipment that increases international departures processing capacity five-fold. Twelve new automated pre-security gates scan boarding passes to grant passengers to security areas rather than have them checked manually. The new equipment is part of a move to more automation at the international terminal where up to 7000 people can be processed every hour. Auckland Airport's general manager of operations Anna Cassels-Brown said the technology transformation that could eventually include biometric authentication to enable seamless journeys from check-in to boarding the aircraft. "Where possible we see automation as a key way to improve the airport system by being more accurate, reliable and faster." She said the fundamental requirements of passenger processing were not going to change. "We still need check-in, baggage drop, customs and security screening. But what technology can do is allow us to link the process together and streamline information in the background, helping to make the experience as seamless as possible." The new scanners have been developed with Vision-Box, a multinational technology company with its headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal.<br/>