Amadeus Enhances Biometrics Capabilities with Acquisition of Vision-Box

Amadeus has announced its acquisition of Vision-Box, a leading provider of biometric solutions tailored for airports, airlines, and border control operations. This strategic move underscores Amadeus’ commitment to offering a fully integrated traveler journey experience.

The acquisition will augment Amadeus’ offerings with Vision-Box’s expertise in biometrics hardware and software, particularly in border control solutions. By integrating Vision-Box’s capabilities, Amadeus aims to provide end-to-end seamless passenger experiences, spanning from booking flights to arrival at the airport, through border control, and onto boarding.

This strategic partnership aligns with Amadeus’ vision to create a cohesive ecosystem within the travel industry, emphasizing biometrics interoperability among airports, airlines, and border control authorities. Moreover, it strengthens Amadeus’ value proposition for airlines and airports, focusing on streamlining passenger experiences, optimizing operations, and enhancing disruption management.

The adoption of biometrics in border control is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the coming years, driven by the travel industry’s increasing emphasis on digitalizing the passenger journey to enhance travel experiences, meet operational demands, and comply with regulatory requirements.

Vision-Box, a rapidly growing global entity with projected revenues of €70 million and an estimated normalized EBITDA of nearly €20 million in 2023, is being acquired by Amadeus for an agreed price of approximately €320 million. The acquisition will see approximately 470 Vision-Box employees transferring to Amadeus. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close in the first half of 2024.

Decius Valmorbida, President of Travel at Amadeus, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, emphasizing its potential to accelerate Amadeus’ growth in the biometrics sector. Miguel Leitmann, Founder & CEO of Vision-Box, highlighted the growth prospects of the partnership, envisioning a digitally integrated ecosystem that enhances user experience, operational efficiency, and infrastructure usage across the travel industry.

Biometrics technology offers numerous benefits for airports, airlines, and passengers alike, as evidenced by the IATA Global Passenger Survey 2023, where 75% of respondents expressed interest in using biometric data to expedite airport processes. Frictionless touchpoints powered by biometrics not only improve passenger experiences but also contribute to on-time performance targets for airlines while optimizing staff resources for enhanced customer service delivery.