The ABC (Automated Border Control) gate system is designed for the check-in of passengers travelling outside the Schengen area (i.e. Great Britain, the United States, Georgia, Croatia and Albania). The passenger can freely choose the standard or automated form of passport control. Five gates will be designated for departing passengers, and five for passengers arriving in Poland in the non-Schengen zone. As a result, ten passengers can be handled at the same time. The use of the most modern biometric techniques guarantees the highest level of security. During the passport control process passengers follow instructions displayed on the screen: they place their document on the reader, where it is scanned. Then, after successful verification, the gate is opened and the next stage of control starts, i.e. biometric data from the document is compared with the image of the person undergoing the check. When the system confirms that the document is used by an authorized person, and the document itself authorizes the crossing of the border, the process is completed and the passenger can leave the gate.
Ten newly installed ABC gates for automatic border control will be used at the Kraków-Balice airport starting today. Łukasz Kmita, the Voivode of the Małopolska Province, handed over specialist equipment worth PLN 5,618,780 to the Border Guard in Kraków-Balice. The press conference was also attended by Łukasz Smółka, the Vice-Marshal of the Małopolska Province, Colonel of the Border Guard Renata Obrzut, Commander of the Carpathian Border Guard Unit, and Colonel of the Border Guard Winicjusz Tęczar, Commander of the Border Guard Post in Krakow-Balice and Radosław Włoszek, President of the Management Board of Kraków Airport.
“The ABC gate system will raise the standard of services provided at Kraków Airport. It is extremely important to streamline the check-in process while maintaining all safety standards. The entire automatic check-in procedure takes several seconds, and the passenger has no direct contact with the controller, although the whole process is supervised by a Border Guard officer. From the point of view of the development of the Kraków-Balice International Airport, it is a very functional and necessary solution. I make sure the Border Guard Post in Kraków-Balice has continuous access to modern and specialized equipment. I also want the implemented solutions and tools to improve both security at the airport and the work of security guards. One of the largest airports in Poland is becoming more and more modern, more comfortable and safer for passengers, Border Guard officers and airport employees," says Łukasz Kmita, the Voivode of the Małopolska Province.
“During the pandemic, these devices support our safety, but no device can replace humans. That is why I would like to thank all the officers of the Border Guard for what you do on a daily basis, taking care of the safety of arriving and departing passengers. Małopolska is a safe place," stresses Łukasz Smółka, Vice-Marshal of the Małopolska Province.
“Installing automatic border control devices will undoubtedly facilitate the control process. Speeding up border checks on passengers is of key importance, even more so when officers carry out additional duties related to sanitary precautions. Moreover, elimination of direct contact between the traveller and the controller is part of the protective measures to prevent the spread of epidemiological threats" emphasizes Stanisław Laciuga, the commander of the Carpathian Border Guard Unit.
Kraków Airport prioritizes the high standard of services provided, but above all the safety of our passengers, said Radosław Włoszek, President of the Management Board of Kraków Airport. We are all the more pleased that thanks to funds from the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the introduction of self-service border control systems will significantly improve passenger service and facilitate the work of the border guards. Kraków Airport is part of the region and is a key element of the transport system. Its development translates directly into an increase of the region’s economic position, social capital and tourism.