SITA’s Materna IPS to Provide Biometric Bag Drop Tech for New JFK Terminal

Materna IPS will provide a biometric bag drop system for the planned Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The company has partnered with JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), which has been selected by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) to construct and operate the new $4.2 billion terminal.

The Self-Service Bag Drop (SSBD) system is expected to be one of the most extensive self-bag drop systems in the country, and will enable passengers to verify their identification via facial recognition. The biometrics-based bag drop process is expected to take only 30 seconds.

In a statement announcing the contract, Materna IPS President Gary McDonald placed it in the context of his firm’s wider array of projects.

“Materna IPS is already known throughout the international aviation community, and we have delivered multiple notable projects throughout the U.S.,” he said. “To be awarded this contract at JFK Terminal 6 is the icing on the cake.”

The contract is a win not only for Materna IPS, but for SITA, which recently finalized its acquisition of Materna IPS. SITA is well known for its biometric passenger processing systems, most notably its face-scanning SITA Smart Path system, and sought to extend its technological reach further across the passenger journey through the addition of Materna IPS’s bag drop solutions.

While the biometric technology will be seen by many as an advancement, JMP CEO Steve Thody sought to reassure travelers that using the system would not be mandatory.

“While some guests may prefer to utilize the self-service bag drop option, with its multiple languages and overall ease of use – others may still want support from an agent,” he said. “The ability to offer our guests both options in an elevated check-in experience is what we’re most excited about.”

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Aug. 1, 2024 – by Alex Perala