United Airlines' Automated Passport Control Kiosks Reduce Customs Wait Times for New York Travelers

Airline installs 20 APC kiosks at Newark Liberty

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Jun 23, 2014, 03:33 ET

NEWARK, N.J., June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines customers returning to the United States through Newark Liberty International Airport may now enjoy a faster, more flyer-friendly customs experience. The airline has installed 20 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks by BorderXpress in the Terminal C customs hall at its Newark Liberty hub – the New York area's premier international gateway.

United's new APC kiosks expedite the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry process by enabling United customers to scan their passport and complete their customs declaration before proceeding to a CBP officer. The kiosks significantly reduce customs wait times, accelerating the screening process by an average of 89 percent according to Vancouver Airport Authority, which manufactures the units.

"This technology will offer our customers shorter wait times, less congestion and faster flight connections," said Don Wright, the airline's vice president at Newark Liberty. "We're pleased to bring Automated Passport Control to our New York-area hub, and we will continue to invest in services that provide more choice, control and convenience to our global customers."

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection places a significant value on our public-private partnerships, and we continue to collaborate on innovations to improve the international arrivals process," said Robert E. Perez, director of CBP's New York Field Operations. "The Automated Passport Control kiosks are a prime example of our efforts to deploy a solution that is mutually beneficial for CBP, airline carriers, airport authorities and international air travelers."

United customers who use the kiosks follow a set of simple on-screen instructions to obtain a receipt confirming their identity and flight information. Passengers then bring the receipt and their passport to a CBP officer for final processing.

United has rolled out APC kiosks at its hubs in Chicago and Houston over the past year and plans to deploy an additional 10 units at Newark Liberty in the coming weeks. The service is free to all international travelers with a U.S. or Canadian passport and does not require pre-registration.

The faster processing for these travelers results in more efficient processing for all United customers arriving on international flights at Newark Liberty.

"We are proud to partner with United Airlines, the largest carrier at Newark Liberty International Airport, to launch Automated Passport Control technology," said Craig Richmond, president and CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority. "BorderXpress kiosks will help expedite the border clearance process, cutting wait times in half and lowering operating costs, while improving the customs experience for travelers and airport personnel alike."

United in New York / New Jersey

United and United Express offer more flights and more seats from the New York area to more cities around the world than any other airline. This summer, United and United Express will operate nearly 500 daily departures from the three major New York-area airports to more than 150 destinations – the most in North America, the most across the Atlantic, the most across the Pacific and the most to and from Latin America.

United also offers the most flat-bed seats and extra-legroom economy-class seating from the New York area. The airline offers frequent daily service from the New York-area airports to top business travel markets including Chicago, Houston, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 5,200 flights a day to 369 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and, in 2014, will take delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the B787-9 as the North American launch customer, and will welcome 27 new E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 26 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines