The facial recognition technology eliminates the need for international passengers to give boarding passes to airline attendants for the attendants to scan prior to boarding the jet bridge, according to the Houston Airport System. The technology works by accessing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection database and comparing it to passenger facial scans.
While the technology is available at two gates in Terminal E, the airport will install the technology at three additional gates by June 30. By October, the technology will be at a total of 15 gates, HAS Public Information Officer Augusto Bernal said via email. He said that the 15 systems will cost HAS about $100,000—not including maintenance.
"We see great value in providing our passengers a touchless experience at our airports," Bernal said via email. "This will minimize the risk in the air travel experience.”
The facial comparison technology is part of the Houston Airport System's FlySafe Houston initiative, which was expedited at the airport to provide further social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. The same facial recognition technology was installed at William P. Hobby Airport in mid-February for all international arrivals and departures, Bernal said.
Bernal said the airport and the airlines do not store photographs for any purpose, and flyers can opt out of using the facial comparison technology by handing the boarding pass to the airline attendant as normal.
