Passengers scan their smartphones at the airport gates as digital journeys pass and facial recognition begins to exchange traditional check-in. Credit: Shutterstock, Monkey Business Images
Flights are about to look very different. In what is called the biggest shake-up to aviation in half a century, passengers were able to say goodbye to the check-in queue and paperboard pass.
Instead, all you need is your face and your phone. Within the next two or three years, a new digital identity system backed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) could completely change the way we travel to airports.
Face recognition to replace check-in with digital journey path
Under the new plan, travelers can upload their passport details directly to their mobile phones and create a secure “digital travel qualification.” Upon arrival at the airport, facial recognition technology will match your face with your digital ID. There is no need to view documents, scan your boarding pass or check in.
The “Journey Pass” downloaded during booking will replace traditional check-in. This digital wallet includes flight details as well as extras such as car rentals and seating settings. If there are changes to your flight, the app will update everything for you. There is no need to reprint anything.
The idea is simple. When I’m at the airport, my face speaks. The system knows you are there, check your information in real time, allowing security and boarding to pass without showing a piece of paper.
Importantly, developers are dealing with privacy concerns quickly. The facial recognition system is designed to verify your identity, but no data is stored. In fact, some providers have promised that passenger information will be wiped out within 15 seconds.
The travel itinerary itself will be updated – no need to queue
Imagine this: you’re on a flight that’s running late and you know you’ll miss your connection. Now you will need to line up at your desk, explain your situation and wait for a new boarding pass.
But in the near future you will still receive push notifications in the air. New flight details will automatically update your Journey Pass update and, once you land, you will head straight to the new gate. There is no hassle or paperwork.
And it doesn’t stop there. Airlines are exploring features such as seat upgrades in flight, gate-to-gate navigation, or the option to purchase lounge access on the go. If your flight is delayed, your mobile phone can even make your car rental company p.
“The airline system today is very silent,” one developer said. “In the future, they will be completely connected. Your journey will evolve in real time.”
Airlines, including British Airways, Air France-KLM and Finnair, have already tested these tools. The BA said it is investing in digital tools to meet “the expectations of modern travelers.”
UK airports accept facial recognition and smart travel
Many UK airports have already begun to modernize. The new CT scanner means that the laptop and liquid can stay in the bag during security checks, but the 100ml liquid rule still applies. The same goes for Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. You don’t need to remove the laptop – the scanner takes care of everything.
The UK’s Home Office is also working on electronic gates that allow travelers to enter the country using facial recognition alone.
Dubai already uses facial recognition for over 50 nationalities. In the US, reinstatement of citizens can also skip passport checks through similar systems.
In the UK, there are currently over 270 E-gates in 15 airports and railway hubs. All of these need to be upgraded to accommodate this new global standard.
So the next time you search for your passport or desperately refresh your check-in email, your face might be a boarding pass in a few years.
For the latest travel news, stay tuned for globalnewsphere
