Faster cross-border passenger processing at Tijuana Airport

Passenger processing technology has enabled speedy border crossing at Tijuana Airport’s Cross Border Xpress, the first ever skywalk to connect a facility in the USA directly into a foreign airport terminal.

SITA has implemented its passenger processing technology at Tijuana Airport’s Cross Border Xpress (CBX). The new system will reduce waiting times for air passengers by providing an easy check-in and bag drop at the Mexican airport terminal in the USA

Tijuana Airport first bi-national airport passenger terminal in the Americas

The airport’s operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, (GAP), is a partner in the first true bi-national airport passenger terminal in the Americas. It allows passengers from the US to access more than 30 destinations that Tijuana Airport offers, including direct flights to Shanghai, many of which are not served by other Southern California airports.

The cross-border bridge at the airport, between San Diego, U.S.A. and Tijuana, Mexico, serves in the region of 2.4 million passengers who already cross the border as part of their travels, helping them avoid unpredictable, often long delays at congested San Ysidro and Otay Mesa land ports of entry.

Cross-border passenger processing drops from 4hrs to 30 mins

SITA has installed its AirportConnect Kiosks and work stations which now allow air passengers departing from or arriving in Tijuana, to check-in at CBX and use the facility to reduce their waiting time. SITA estimates the time taken to cross the border between Mexico and the USA has fallen from 4 hours to 30 minutes.

Juan Francisco Martinez, CIO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, said: “As we developed CBX it was important that we had a strong technology partner. We needed seamless passenger processing and to be able to get new airlines up and running quickly. SITA’s common-use self-service kiosks and work stations make it easy for us to welcome new international airlines to this great facility and make this unique border crossing smooth and fast for all travellers.”

Alex Covarrubias, SITA Vice President Sales, Latin America and the Caribbean, said: “The Cross Border Xpress facility at Tijuana Airport is an innovative way to enable passengers to cross the U.S./Mexico border quickly and easily. Our team at SITA worked closely with the team at GAP to make sure that from day one passengers and airlines would enjoy world class check-in facilities. The SITA AirportConnect check-in kiosks and work stations are in place for multiple airlines, with more airlines due to start using them soon for the 2.4 million passengers at this border crossing.”