Spanish multinational technology company Amadeus is set to buy Vision-Box, a biometric solution provider for airports, airlines, and border control customers.  

The acquisition of Portugal-based Vision-Box brings new capabilities around biometrics hardware and software to Amadeus, adding border control solutions to its portfolio.

Through the acquisition of Vision-Box's operations, Amadeus says it will now be able to deliver "a full end-to-end seamless passenger experience" from booking to arrival at the airport, through border control, and boarding.  

Amadeus will be fully acquiring privately-owned Vision-Box for an agreed price of around €320m.

As part of this acquisition, approximately 470 Vision-Box employees will transfer to Amadeus. The deal is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in H1 2024. 

“Biometrics is a strategic and fast-growing industry, and Vision-Box’s capabilities will allow us to accelerate our growth in this area," said Decius Valmorbida, president of travel at Amadeus.

Amadeus hopes the deal will help its strategy to connect the travel industry with a "seamless ecosystem". Acquiring Vision-Box and its capabilities will, according to the company, allow for its existing offering to "improve biometrics interoperability" between airports, airlines, and border control authorities.

"With a portfolio that is deeply complementary to our existing offering for both airports and airlines, our combined best-in-class solutions will now deliver a seamless passenger journey from booking to boarding," added Valmorbida.

Vision-Box is a fast-growing global business with expected revenues of €70m, and an estimated normalized EBITDA of close to €20m in 2023, is currently partially owned by private equity fund Keensight Capital.

“I’m extremely excited about the growth opportunities for Vision-Box as we join Amadeus, a leading travel technology player with a global footprint," said Miguel Leitmann, founder and CEO of Vision-Box.

"Together we can deliver the next big step in the travel experience: to unite all separate players and systems in a single, digitally- integrated, and orchestrated ecosystem.”

Adoption of biometric technology at airports has seen a global uptick since the Covid-19 pandemic, with airports and passengers both wanting more frictionless touchpoints throughout the airport journey.