Airports of the Future May Use Facial Recognition Instead of Passports
Technology firm SITA is developing biometric systems that could allow travelers to use their faces as boarding passes and for border control.
Airports may soon eliminate lengthy queues and manual passport checks with the advent of new biometric technologies. Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA), a global air transport communications and information technology specialist, is leading research into transforming the travel experience. These advancements aim to replace physical travel documents with digital identification and facial recognition.
SITA is exploring the concept of a "digital ID" where a traveler's face could serve as their passport. The company has developed an app that allows users to upload their passport information to their smartphone. This digital passport can be verified by placing the phone over the physical document, with the chip authentication occurring wirelessly. All passport information stored on the phone is password-protected and can be deactivated if the device is lost, similar to digital banking cards.
These digital travel solutions are not entirely new, as SITA has already deployed various ID apps and biometric entry systems in countries like Aruba. Such systems can be integrated with airline websites, eliminating the need for manual entry of passport details. The company is also developing advanced border control gates. While current automated gates take 30 to 45 seconds for processing, SITA's newer gates can process passengers in 15 to 20 seconds. The fastest technology, termed "face pods," aims to complete the border control process in as little as six seconds.
Face pods, which resemble supermarket self-service checkouts, use cameras to scan a traveler's face. Although tested, widespread adoption faces regulatory hurdles rather than technical limitations, according to Andy Smith, SITA's director of industry and innovations. "This is not a technical issue, but a regulatory one," Smith stated. Some airports in North America and the Caribbean are already utilizing elements of this technology.
Another significant development is the "digital corridor." This concept envisions travelers walking through a hallway where integrated cameras scan their faces to identify them, with screens indicating who is cleared to proceed. Elements of these systems are being considered for less secure areas like airport lounges in the coming months. SITA is currently evaluating different technical versions of digital corridors to determine the most suitable applications for various use cases.
The introduction of systems like the EU's Entry/Exit System has recently led to extended wait times at European airports, with some reports of three-hour delays. The proposed technologies from SITA aim to streamline these processes, potentially making travel significantly more efficient.
