The self-service entry-exit inspection system was officially launched at Beijing Capital Airport on January 20, 2009, henceforth providing more convenient and efficient services to passengers of Air China. Secretary of the CPC Branch of Air China, Tan Zhihong, expressed that Air China’s “Through Check In, TCI” service and the launching of the self-service entry-exit inspection system should effectively expedite the customs clearance efficiency of passengers. This should strengthen Air China’s transit capacities at the Beijing air hub, boost Air China’s international competitiveness, and play an important role in developing the Beijing air hub.

Twenty self-service E-channels were installed at the entry inspection points of the T3E terminal in the Beijing Capital Airport. All passengers who have the “Travel Permit for Residents of Hong Kong and Macao to Mainland China” can use the self-service entry-exit inspection system. Based on biometric identification technologies such as recognizing fingerprints and facial features, this new generation entry-exit inspection system can be manually operated by passengers. They can complete the clearance procedures by simply scanning their entry-exit certificates according to the instructions stated on the systems notice, followed by the biometric identification. It would take each passenger approximately 10 seconds to complete the self-service customs clearance, considerably shortening the clearance time. The system will very soon be implemented to the self-service customs clearance for all of Air China’s flights to Hong Kong and Macao, and in the near future, it will be applied to Chinese citizens as well.