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Airport deploys iris recognition

Iridian Technologies recently announced that the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) officially launched the CANPASS-Air program for travellers at Vancouver International Airport.

CANPASS-Air allows pre-approved travellers to clear customs and immigration quickly and securely by using iris recognition technology. A total of eight airports in Canada are expected to implement this new security measure.

The CANPASS-Air program is a joint initiative of the CCRA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada to facilitate efficient and secure entry into Canada for pre-approved, low-risk air travellers. The program is open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States or Canada. It will be extended to other visa-exempt countries and the North American Free Trade Agreement business travellers in the future.

CANPASS-Air allows pre-approved travellers to clear customs by simply looking into a camera that recognises the iris of their eyes as proof of identity. "Deploying iris recognition at Vancouver International Airport streamlines security operations significantly," said Jo Yuill, marketing director at local Iridian Technologies distributor, Johannesburg-based Mantis Networks.

"The system is highly effective in that pre-screened, frequent travellers will be identified quickly, allowing enforcement activities to be targeted on high-risk travellers," she said. "It is exactly this type of application that would benefit the continent of Africa."

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