Summary:
- Tampa International Airport has deployed Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to accelerate international arrivals for U.S. passport holders.
- The biometric system uses facial comparison technology to verify traveller identity in seconds, enabling a touchless process that allows passengers to proceed directly to baggage claim.
- EPP can process passengers in 6-8 seconds and has helped deliver a 25% reduction in wait times for U.S. citizens across participating airports.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has introduced Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) technology in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The new system is now operational in the international arrivals area at Airside F, featuring two dedicated lanes exclusively for U.S. passport holders. EPP uses biometric facial comparison to instantly confirm a traveller’s identity, allowing passengers to move through customs and proceed directly to baggage claim in record time.
When a U.S. citizen enters the inspection area, auto-capture cameras operated by CBP officers take a quick photo. Within seconds, the system compares the live image to passport photos already stored in CBP’s database, verifies identity and citizenship, conducts law enforcement vetting, and creates a crossing record, all without requiring travellers to present documents manually. The process is touchless and rapid, with CBP officers available to guide and assist passengers as needed.
Participation in EPP is voluntary and free. Travellers who prefer not to use facial comparison can simply notify an officer and complete the standard arrivals process instead.
“As Tampa International Airport continues to implement technology-based solutions to enhance the passenger experience, the recently released Enhanced Passenger Processing solution is a game-changer,” said TPA’s Director of Digital Technologies & Innovation Doug Wycoff. “The Operations and Technology teams at TPA brought this solution to production with a clear understanding of how processing passengers in just six to eight seconds can significantly improve the flow at international arrivals.”
Nationwide, CBP processed more than 420 million travellers at ports of entry in fiscal year 2024, a 6.6% increase from the previous year. To support this continued growth, CBP is implementing modernisation enhancements across airports, seaports, and land borders to improve efficiency, enhance security, and prepare for rising travel volumes. Since launching EPP nationally, CBP has recorded a 25% reduction in wait times for U.S. citizens. The programme is now available at 15 U.S. airports.
By automating identity verification, EPP enables CBP to better allocate resources, allowing officers to focus on higher-risk travellers, a cornerstone of the agency’s national security mission.
You may also be interested in
12 technology and CX trends that can enhance airline and airport operations in 2026
