Newark Liberty International Airport trials biometric self-boarding e-gate

The adoption of biometrics has been accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to reduce contact between airport staff and passengers and also to speed up passenger throughput which helps reduce crowding and bottlenecks due to the more extensive checks required at border control. 

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is trialling a biometric self-boarding e-gate. If it is successful, it will be rolled out further. At the moment the biometric gate is specifically for Lufthansa flights. Lufthansa passengers have their photo taken in the airport, which are then cross referenced with U.S. Customs and Border Protection passport database. When the flight is ready to board, all that is required is a scan of the passenger’s face.