ORANJESTAD - Aruba wants to further develop its airport into a modern digital hub for international travel. The island is working on technology that will allow travelers to share a digital passport via their phone and pass through border controls more quickly using facial recognition.
This became clear during a tour of Queen Beatrix International Airport for Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten during his official visit to Aruba.
During the presentation, the Dutch delegation received an explanation of various technological innovations at the airport, including the project 3DXVerse. This is being developed in collaboration with the European Union as part of a so-called Horizon project, together with European universities and companies.
Smartphone
At the heart of the project are so-called digital travel credentials. Travelers will be able to share digital travel and identity data with immigration authorities via their smartphone in advance, before they even arrive in Aruba.
In addition, biometric technology and facial recognition are being used at e-gates. According to the airport, the identity of travelers can be verified within seconds, which should significantly reduce waiting times at border controls.
Sustainability
The airport is also linking its technological innovations to sustainability. The system will, among other things, examine the ecological impact of travel. In the future, travelers could gain insight into their own emissions and participate in local offset projects, such as mangrove planting.
The visit also highlighted the upgraded baggage system and the US pre-clearance facility in Aruba. Thanks to this facility, travelers can already pass through US border control on Aruba before departing to the United States.
