The traditional boarding pass could become a thing of the past Aviation body IATA says they have proven that a secure and contactless experience at the airport is now possible after a trial run on a flight between London and Rome.
The test showed it is technologically possible to go through an airport without taking either phone or passport out of purse or pocket. But IATA acknowledges that the difficult next step wil be getting border authorities and airlines to sign up to the process.
IATA and industry partners successfully tested a digital identity travel experience from London Heathrow to Rome Fiumicino with British Airways and passenger volunteers.
It says that future travellers who choose to share their biometric data, storing their phone and proceeding hands-free through the airport will be possible without taking phone and passport out of their pocket or purse. Biometric gates cleared the way for the LHR-FCO traveller through security, into lounges and onto the aircraft.
IATA’s Glasnevin born CEO Willie Walsh told a press conference at the first joint world financial symposium and world passenger symposium in Chicago that the potential comfort for passengers was enormous: “I flew yesterday I had to present my passport five times. Biometrics would eliminate that. It would be designed to ensure that people can pass through the airport through a biometric gate. You don’t have to stop. Compared with the current transaction with an immigration officer it could save 15 minutes to 30 minutes and it could even be longer depending on which airports you’re using.”
The passenger chose to share their digital passport and order data with their airline, British Airways, to receive a confirmation that they are Ready-to-Fly and seat assignment via text message, eliminating all manual data input.
Once the traveller had chosen among the offers, their order was generated as a verifiable credential to be stored in a digital wallet. No more Passenger Name Records (PNR), e-tickets or electronic miscellaneous documents were needed. All the information about the journey was stored in the verifiable credential, which can also be read as a QR code.
The future vision for travel involves a fully digital and biometric-secured experience.
The integrated digital travel experience includes personalised offers, simplified orders, effortless travel requirements check, simplified and secure check-ins, and contactless airport experiences. IATA says
- Critical industry process transformations and global standards are enabling this transformation, such as modern airline retailing and the One ID program.
- Privacy is a top priority, with passenger processing standards designed to keep passengers in control of their personal data.
- The proof of concept was developed in the IATA Innovation Lab, aiming to help the aviation industry generate value during the digitalization transition.
Companies involved in the project include Accenture, Amadeus, Australian Border Force, AWS, Branchspace, British Airways, IDnow, Aeroporti di Roma, SICPA, Trip.com, and Verchaska.
