News

Canadian airport to roll out iris-scan kiosks in March

January 15, 2003

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A new airport security program called CANPASS-Air soon will allow passengers traveling between the U.S. and Canada to speed through customs and immigration clearance at Vancouver International Airport with the help of kiosk-based iris scanners.

According to a news release, travelers will approach a customs area and look into a camera that will check one iris for proof of identity. Total time for the scan is 10 seconds.

Travelers also will be able to declare goods and pay duties and taxes at the kiosk. Authorized passengers can proceed, while suspect travelers are referred to customs personnel.

CANPASS-Air users will pay an annual fee $32 (U.S. $21) to use the service. The first applications for membership will be accepted in late January.

The program will be open to Canadian and U.S. residents before expanding to include residents of Mexico and other visa-waiver countries.

The program is expected to be operational in March at airports in Vancouver and Toronto. According to the release, airports in Halifax, Winnipeg, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton will get the technology soon afterwards.

IBM is managing the new program for Canadian Customs. Iridian Technologies Inc., of Moorestown, N.J., produces the iris verification machines.