Vancouver International Airport (YVR) today announced its proprietary line of self-serve border control solutions, BorderXpress, has been expanded to meet the requirements of Canada Border Service Agency’s (CBSA) new Primary Inspection Kiosk (PIK) program. YVR will roll out 90 new PIK configured BorderXpress Kiosks in spring 2017. YVR is proud to be an integral part of CBSA’s objective to modernize the border entry process for air travelers.
BorderXpress was developed by Innovative Travel Solutions, an independent business unit within YVR with more than a decade of experience in kiosk design, user experience, layout and flow analysis. BorderXpress has proven to be a very efficient tool to reduce border line ups, while at the same time strengthening the safety and security of borders. More than 1,050 kiosks are currently in use at 34 airport and seaport locations, processing over 100 million passengers to-date – more than any other provider.
BorderXpress can be easily configured to meet the needs of governments around the world looking to implement technology solutions to reduce border line-ups and improve the safety, security and integrity of their borders.
The full press release is below and attached.
YVR develops next-generation BorderXpress kiosks to meet the needs of the Canada Border Services Agency’s new border clearance program
Automation offers expedited process for international arriving passengers
Richmond, B.C. April 5, 2017: Vancouver International Airport (YVR) today announced its proprietary line of self-serve border control solutions, BorderXpress, has been expanded to meet the requirements of Canada Border Service Agency’s (CBSA) new Primary Inspection Kiosk (PIK) program. Under the PIK program, the CBSA is expanding its use of border kiosks at Canadian airports, and will now offer self-service options to an increased number of incoming international travelers.
“Border clearance kiosks are the way of the future and we applaud the CBSA’s continued efforts to expand the use of kiosks to reduce border wait times while meeting evolving security needs,” said Craig Richmond, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Not only do our BorderXpress solutions provide a modern and efficient experience for our passengers, they are also a smart choice for airports and government, as they help to reduce overall operating costs and free up border officers to focus more closely on enforcement and intelligence efforts.”
YVR will roll out 90 new PIK-configured BorderXpress kiosks in Spring 2017, extending the automated border clearance process to the majority of incoming international travelers. Using the new kiosks, passengers will scan their travel documents, complete their declaration and verify their identity and admissibility using facial recognition technology before proceeding to a CBSA officer for final inspection. This process will ultimately reduce time spent with the CBSA officers and decrease overall processing times. The addition of the new BorderXpress kiosks will help YVR meet its goal of handling 25 million passengers by 2025 while still providing exceptional customer experiences.
As part of the CBSA’s objective to modernize the border entry process for air travelers, the paper declaration card will be eliminated. BorderXpress PIK technology will now handle this function and passengers will complete paperless declarations directly at the kiosks. Passengers can save even more time by completing their declaration in advance using the eDeclaration (Beta) mobile app, and scan their quick response (QR) code at a BorderXpress kiosk upon arrival.
BorderXpress was developed by Innovative Travel Solutions, an independent business unit within YVR with more than a decade of experience in kiosk design, user experience, layout and flow analysis. BorderXpress is marketed to airports around the world and more than 1,050 kiosks are currently in use at 34 airport and seaport locations — more than any other provider.
BorderXpress kiosks help immigration officers process up to four times more passengers per hour than through traditional clearance; and, as of March 1, 2017, BorderXpress kiosks have processed over 100 million passengers. BorderXpress can be easily configured to meet the needs of governments around the world looking to implement technology solutions to reduce border line-ups and improve the safety, security and integrity of their borders.
-YVR-
About Vancouver Airport Authority
Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR served 22.3 million passengers in 2016. Fifty-five airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 125 non-stop destinations worldwide. In 2016, YVR received CAPA Centre for Aviation’s prestigious Airport of the Year Award and was voted Best Airport in North America for the eighth consecutive year in the Skytrax World Airport Awards in 2017. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2016 donated more than $1,000,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor. For more information, please visit www.yvr.ca.
Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has become the latest airport to receive CLEAR, the biometric identity service that helps speed flyers through airport security lines.
At Cincinnati, CLEAR kiosks will be available at the airport’s main security checkpoint, enabling CLEAR customers to use the service no matter which airline they are flying.
“Our mission is to make travel through CVG an unforgettably positive experience, and with the added convenience of CLEAR, we’ll be able to continue to deliver on that mission,” CVG airport CEO Candace McGraw said in a statement.
CLEAR members submit fingerprint and iris scans to the company, which uses those biometric scans to confirm a traveler’s identify when he or she arrives to the airport security. CLEAR customers present themselves at a special CLEAR kiosk that’s typically adjacent to the security queues. Once there, CLEAR personal confirm travelers’ identities after a fingerprint or iris scan. Then, members are escorted to the front of the queue to go through security.
HMSHost kiosk ordering in Quick Service Restaurants Roll Out
QikServe kiosk solution deployed in more than 50 highway and airport restaurants
BETHESDA, MD – Meeting the needs of busy travelers, global restaurateur HMSHost continues to innovate the restaurant industry with expanded service format options, offering self-order kiosks in quick service restaurants it operates in airports and highway travel plazas across North America. This modern ordering and payment amenity is now available across a variety of HMSHost quick service restaurants in over 50 airports and travel plazas and will be deployed in approximately 100 locations by the end of 2019. The innovative kiosk solution utilizes the QikServe self-service platform and is seamlessly integrated with HMSHost’s point-of-sale system.
Kiosk ordering in these restaurants serves travelers using QikServe’s enterprise platform, allowing guests to browse the menu and make selections, order, and pay via an intuitive digital interface. The ordering process also includes a range of cross-selling and up-selling options that offer guests more options to add to their meal. The kiosks have already demonstrated a typical increase in average transaction value of around 20%.
“Since deploying the QikServe kiosk solution, we have seen a significant improvement in overall guest satisfaction,” said James Schmitz, Vice President of Innovation at HMSHost. “We are confident that technology solutions like kiosk ordering are transforming the food industry. By introducing these innovations in travel venues, HMSHost is exposing people from all over the world to the technology-driven future of dining out.”
Self-order kiosks improve the guest experience for travelers by helping combat long lines and providing more flexible levels of interaction when placing an order. Guests have more time to browse the menu with kiosk ordering, often leading to the discovery of new favorites and greater sales. The platform also helps during times of high customer volume, common in travel venues.
“We are thrilled to be working with a world leader like HMSHost to revolutionize the ordering process at its restaurants across North America,” said Daniel Rodgers, Founder & CEO, QikServe. “I am delighted that we are delivering value for HMSHost while also bringing convenience to the traveler experience. This is a fantastic demonstration of how our integrated platform provides the flexibility to deliver a wide range of digital self-service experiences across the hospitality industry.”
Exposure to broad audiences will play a role in revolutionizing the restaurant industry as HMSHost continues to launch innovations like the QikServe-powered kiosks in more of its restaurants. The companies are also working together on self-service solutions beyond kiosks. These technology solutions are impacting the restaurant industry, giving guests convenient options to order exactly what they want and giving restaurants improved satisfaction levels and stronger overall results.
HMSHost Leading the Industry
HMSHost is recognized by the industry as the top provider of travel dining with awards such as 2018 Best Overall Food & Beverage Operator (for the eleventh consecutive year) by Airport Revenue News. USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards recognized HMSHost’s Summer House Santa Monica at Chicago O’Hare International Airport as Best Airport Bar / Restaurant Atmosphere. HMSHost is a leader in sustainability practices which include plans to eliminate conventional plastic straw use by 2020. The company also creates original award-winning events like Airport Restaurant Month, Channel Your Inner Chef live culinary contest, and the Adrian Awards Gold winning campaigns, #HMSHostLove and Eat Well. Travel Further.
About HMSHost
Global restaurateur HMSHost is a world leader in creating dining for travel venues. HMSHost operates in more than 120 airports around the globe and at more than 100 travel plazas in North America. The company has annual sales of nearly $3.3 billion and employs more than 41,000 associates worldwide. HMSHost is a part of Autogrill Group, the world’s leading provider of food & beverage services for people on the move. With sales of €4.6 billion in 2017, the group operates in 31 countries and employs over 58,000 people. It manages approximately 4,000 stores in about 1,000 locations worldwide.
QikServe is the enterprise platform for guest self-service in hospitality. Using any channel from kiosks and tablets to web and mobile apps, hospitality operators can provide powerful in-store solutions from ordering to payment, giving guests the convenience to order and pay for their food and drinks whenever and however they want. www.qikserve.com
By Craig Keefner — See Storm’s entire range of Assistive Technology Products (ATP) and find out more about exciting new product launches scheduled for later this year. These ATP devices are ADA compliant and RNIB Accredited, designed to offer menu navigation by means of audible content description. They allow users with impaired vision, reading difficulties or impaired fine motor skills to navigate through menus or directories that would typically be presented on a visual display or touch screen. Designed for use as the tactile/audio interface for any accessible self-service application such as kiosks, ticketing machines etc.
YVR’s Innovative Travel Solutions becomes first in Europe to provide permanent border control kiosks for Entry and Exit border control
Cyprus airports install 74 BORDERXPRESS kiosks to enhance security, speed of service and improve experience for passengers
Big news today for the airport industry with the installation of 74 BorderXpress kiosks at Pafos International Airport and Larnaka International Airport in Cyprus. This is the first implementation of permanent kiosks for Entry and Exit border control in all of Europe. As air traffic continues to grow throughout Europe, so too do border control wait times. This technology has proven success in 39 other airport and seaport locations and allows airports to increase passenger traffic and reduce wait times – all without having to add additional space or staffing resources.
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Richmond, B.C. July 10, 2018: 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, travellers 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. Travellers then take their completed kiosk receipt to a border services officer. The Exit kiosks are available for use by all travellers 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 travellers,” 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.
-YVR-
About Vancouver Airport Authority
Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR served 24.2 million passengers in 2017. Fifty-six airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 127 non-stop destinations worldwide. In 2016, YVR received CAPA Centre for Aviation’s prestigious Airport of the Year Award and was voted Best Airport in North America for the ninth consecutive year in the Skytrax World Airport Awards in 2018. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2017 donated more than $1,000,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor.
Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) is the innovation team at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), voted North America’s Best Airport for nine straight years by Skytrax World Airport Awards. In 2009, the innovation team implemented BORDERXPRESS at Vancouver International Airport and soon discovered that other airports and governments might also want the ability to reduce wait times and increase their international arrives traffic without having to add additional space or staffing resources. YVR has now sold over 1,500 kiosks to 41 airport and seaport locations worldwide, processing more than 181 million passengers – more than any other automated passport control provider. In May 2018, the team at ITS set their sights on the next innovation in the evolution of the passenger experience with the launch of CHECKITXPRESS, the world’s most accessible, efficient and intuitive self-service bag drop. CHECKITXPRESS improves ease of use for travellers regardless of age, digital fluency, language or mobility, and is the result of a collaboration between YVR and Glidepath, one of the world’s leaders in airport baggage handling.
YVR’s Innovative Travel Solutions and Glidepath deliver world’s most efficient self-service bag drop system
CHECKITXPRESS system will improve the speed and ease of passenger and bag movement
Richmond, B.C., May 18, 2018: Today, Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) and Glidepath, one of the world’s leaders in airport baggage handling, celebrated the installation of the first CHECKITXPRESS self-bag drop unit at YVR. CHECKITXPRESS is the world’s most accessible, efficient and intuitive self-service bag drop on the market, improving ease of use for travellers regardless of age, digital fluency, language or mobility. The collaboration between a Canadian airport and a New Zealand Baggage Handling Solutions company brought together two leaders in airport innovation.
The reveal of CHECKITXPRESS at YVR comes at a time when the airport – recently named Best Airport in North America for the ninth consecutive year – is experiencing unprecedented growth. YVR anticipates it will serve 29 million passengers by 2020 by becoming a hub with a diverse global network. Innovative technologies such as CHECKITXPRESS will enable YVR to support this growth by improving the speed and ease of passenger and bag movement while delivering an outstanding customer experience.
Glidepath and ITS applied ergonomic design principles by lowering the profile of the conveyor to four inches (10 centimetres) off the floor and creating durable ramps to wheel bags onto the conveyor. This allows CHECKITXPRESS to be accessible from multiple sides, offering a user-friendly bag-drop for all travellers. This industry first ultimately creates a more seamless and enjoyable travel experience for everyone.
CHECKITXPRESS also takes up less space in airport terminals and helps alleviate congestion in the bag drop area. Airports benefit by avoiding costly terminal expansions and saving valuable space for other airport features, amenities and procedures which ultimately helps increase overall competitiveness.
“We strive to deliver an outstanding experience for every traveller that comes through YVR,” says Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “This is an exciting time for us and offering solutions that are more accessible, efficient and intuitive enables us to prioritize speed and ease of movement for everyone, which improves overall traveller satisfaction. We’re excited to be launching CHECKITXPRESS at YVR today as a major step forward in becoming a world class sustainable hub airport.”
Through its innovative camera technology and superior first-time read-rates on baggage, CHECKITXPRESS has achieved some of the quickest customer processing times in the industry. In fact, CHECKITXPRESS boasts first-time read-rates of greater than 90 per cent and the average processing time is eight seconds with no agent intervention or assistance required. By expediting the bag-drop process, CHECKITXPRESS offers a cost-effective solution to reducing passenger wait times, while taking pressure off essential airport personnel.
“Glidepath is proud to partner with North America’s best airport on this major milestone for our industry,” says Sir Ken Stevens, Chairman of Glidepath. “The holistic collaboration allowed us to create a truly unique product designed for the airport of the future.”
With the installation of the first CHECKITXPRESS at YVR, ITS and Glidepath will roll out more units in the airport over the course of the year. The team is also planning to expand CHECKITXPRESS to other airports around the world.
“As passenger numbers continue to increase, the need for innovative approaches to solve global processing challenges is profound,” says Chris Gilliland, Director of ITS, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Our partnership with Glidepath, an industry leader with extensive expertise in baggage handling systems, allows our team at ITS to provide a solution that we know will improve the travelling experience at not only YVR, but airports around the world.”
CHECKITXPRESS follows the success of BORDERXPRESS, the world’s first self-service border control solution that accepts all passports and doesn’t require pre-registration or fees. It automates the administrative functions of border control with a two-step process that makes it faster and more efficient. With more than 1,300 kiosks in 39 airport and sea ports, BORDERXPRESS has processed over 160 million passengers globally, and reduced passenger wait times by more than 50 per cent.
By implementing automation and technology, airports open the door for better passenger experiences.CHECKITXPRESS offers a world-class product customizable to meet the needs of all airports, globally, while meeting the highest levels of security.
-YVR-
About Vancouver Airport Authority
Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR served 24.2 million passengers in 2017. Fifty-six airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 127 non-stop destinations worldwide. In 2016, YVR received CAPA Centre for Aviation’s prestigious Airport of the Year Award and was voted Best Airport in North America for the ninth consecutive year in the Skytrax World Airport Awards in 2018. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2017 donated more than $1,000,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor.
Innovative Travel Solutions (ITS) is the innovation team at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), voted North America’s Best Airport for nine straight years by Skytrax World Airport Awards. In 2009, the innovation team implemented BORDERXPRESS at Vancouver International Airport and soon discovered that other airports and governments might also want the ability to reduce wait times and increase their international arrives traffic without having to add additional space or staffing resources. YVR has now sold over 1,300 kiosks to 39 airport and seaport locations worldwide, processing more than 160 million passengers – more than any other automated passport control provider. With more than 10 years of experience in kiosk design, user experience, layout and flow analysis, the ITS team has set their sights on the next innovation in the evolution of the passenger experience. YVR’s ITS team is proud to bring their innate understanding of airports to this collaboration with Glidepath on CHECKITXPRESS, the next innovation to improve the passenger experience for airports around the world.
With over 45 years’ industry experience and 800+ projects completed in over 65 countries, Glidepath has become a leading expert in the challenging nature of operational baggage handling systems. Glidepath design and manufacture a complete range of baggage handling and sorting systems for airports of every size, from small regional centres to large international hubs but our real skill lies in the ability to integrate extensions and enhancements to baggage handling systems without compromising the operations of the airport. A “value engineered” approach has led to the development of flexible modular designs that can be customized to suite current and future needs and Glidepath’s sophisticated control technology allows automation to any degree.
