ACI-NA Calls for Government to Collect US VISIT Exit Data
CONTACT:
Megan Miller, mmiller@aci-na.org (202) 861-8080
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org (202) 293-4537
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON (April 22, 2008) – Following the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) announcement today of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on U.S. VISIT Exit, which will establish biometric exit procedures at all U.S air and sea ports of departure, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) called for the government to collect the data, rather than the airlines.
“ACI-NA recognizes the need for an accurate biometric exit system and fully supports its implementation at air, sea and land points of departure,” said ACI-NA President, Greg Principato. “However, airlines should not be required to collect this information, as it is an inherently governmental function and it should be appropriately funded to ensure its success.
“Additionally, to be most effective and efficient, the system must be integrated into the traveler’s normal departure process and implemented in full consultation with airports” Principato said.
Airports’ primary concern is for the security of airline passengers and others at the airport, but airport infrastructure must also be considered in designing the system. Biometric exit procedures must recognize existing space constraints and passenger flows at airports, as well as additional infrastructure demands, including information technology. In order for the system to be successful, passengers must also know where the information has to be provided. If there is no consistency on where the data is collected, it could cause confusion for travelers.
ACI-NA will work with its members to file comprehensive comments to ensure that the exit elements of US-VISIT enhance both U.S. security and the travel experience for passengers.
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About ACI-NA:
Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Almost 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.