Orlando International Airport Unveils Bold Biometric Tech To Speed Up Travel For Tourists

Published on December 10, 2025

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is introducing a new wave of biometric screening which could change the way international travelers go through the terminal. The airport which is among the busiest in the country, is running trials of facial-recognition technologies for both incoming and outgoing flights in order to cut down processing times drastically and relieve travel-related stress. Airport representatives claim that the new system has already lowered the wait time for some passengers, thereby giving passengers a real benefit.

What’s Changing at the Gate and Arrival Hall

Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) on Arrival

Under the new programme, dubbed Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), arriving U.S. citizens at MCO pass through facial-biometric kiosks that capture a live image and verify it against passport records. Once verified, travellers can proceed directly to baggage claim without repeated manual document checks.

The biometric system supplied by vendor iProov reportedly processes each traveller in under three seconds, achieving throughput of up to 14 passengers per minute per lane, with more than 99 percent success on first attempt. This rapid processing has contributed to a wait-time drop of as much as 65 percent since the May 2025 roll-out.

Passengers who prefer not to use the system can still opt for traditional manual passport and ID checks, though they may face longer queues.

A New 90-Day Pilot for Departure Screening

More recently, MCO has launched a 90-day pilot programme for outbound international flights using facial-recognition at the gate, in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and three technology vendors (including iProov and Aware, Inc.).

Instead of lining up at a podium to show passport and boarding pass, passengers simply walk through a short corridor equipped with mounted cameras. A live photo is matched to government identity records, and CBP officers monitor verification screens in real time. Once cleared, travellers head directly to the jet bridge.

Since MCO has already installed biometric equipment at 65 of its 113 gates, the infrastructure to support this new process is well under way.

Why This Matters For Passengers and Tourism

The benefits of the biometric rollout extend beyond mere convenience. For passengers, especially international travellers, this means:

• Shorter wait times and fewer bottlenecks — boarding and arrival flows that formerly took many minutes could now be cut by nearly half. This reduces stress and unpredictability, especially when landing before a tight connection or catching a ride soon after arrival.
• More predictable travel experience — with fewer manual checks and paperwork, the journey becomes smoother and less prone to delays caused by document handling or queue congestion.
• Improved access for diverse passengers — the system has been designed to handle people of different heights, mobility needs, families travelling together, and those using wheelchairs.
• Potential for faster onward travel — international tourists arriving at MCO can get to baggage claim and onward transport quicker, making tourism more appealing and efficient, for example, heading to theme parks, resorts or other destinations with less waiting around.

Beyond individual convenience, the airport authority Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) says that the shift to biometric processing is part of a long-term vision to scale operations more efficiently, without the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades or adding more immigration staff.

What This Means for Tourism and the Broader Travel Ecosystem

With more than 57 million passengers expected through MCO this year about 15 percent of them international travellers, the impact of reduced wait times is substantial. As air travel recovers and grows, this kind of automated system helps the airport handle increased volume without compromising traveller experience or security.

For tourists, particularly those travelling to Florida’s theme parks, beaches, or attending events faster arrival and departure procedures could make Orlando an even more attractive gateway. Reduced friction at MCO might encourage more spontaneous or short-notice travel, benefiting hotels, resorts, tour operators and the broader tourism economy.

Moreover, the pilot departure biometric screening, if successful could set a precedent for other major international hubs worldwide. As automated travel processing becomes more common, tourists may increasingly expect this level of convenience at their departure and arrival airports.

What Comes Next: Potential Expansion and Wider Changes

Airport and CBP officials have indicated that outcomes from the 90-day pilot will guide decisions on broader deployment. If the biometric departure screening performs as hoped, MCO could expand the system to most, if not all, international gates setting a new standard for smooth, contactless travel.

Besides that, the identical biometric technique could be used in other areas apart from immigration, such as check-in, baggage drop, security screening and even boarding of connecting flights. This would make it possible to have a smooth curb-to-gate trip where the verification of identity is done invisibly in the background, allowing travelers to concentrate on their journey instead of on paperwork or queues.

Image Credit: Orlando International Airport