ICAO Proposes Biometric ‘Journey Pass' to Replace Boarding Passes
The days of frantically searching for your boarding pass or running across an airport parking lot to make it in time for flight check-in may soon be a thing of the past. The UN body responsible for drafting airline policy – International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – has proposed new guidelines to shake up existing rules for airports and airlines by introducing digital travel credentials or a 'journey pass'.
The pass would allow passengers to store vital travel information on devices. According to a Times report, the changes could come into effect in three years.
The changes would make boarding passes obsolete and the need to check in for flights. Instead, flyers will download a 'journey pass' to their phone when they book a flight. The pass will be automatically updated if any changes are made to the booking.
Amadeus, Director of Product Management Valérie Viale, told the Times that the changes could be the biggest in the aviation industry in half a century.
Her company has a system for processing passenger biometrics at each touchpoint and deleting all personal data within 15 seconds.
According to Viale, the last major upgrade of the global aviation system was the introduction of e-ticketing in the 2000s.
Digital credentials – how do they work?
For at least the past few years, ICAO has been working on plans to digitise air transport, particularly through Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs). In December 2024, ICAO released a 'High-Level Guidance: Explaining the ICAO Digital Travel Credentials' document, indicating the concept and planning of DTCs. The concept has gained momentum, and pilot phases have been proposed recently.
According to the report, the key feature of the ICAO DTC is that authorities can verify a digital representation of the passport data before the traveller's arrival and confirm the data's integrity and authenticity.
ICAO said the DTC could enable Enhanced screening capabilities (travel authorisation processing and pre-arrival screening) via the collection of accurate and trusted information, including facial biometrics, in advance of travel; Support increasingly efficient border processes by expanding automated and biometrically-enabled processes and faster and more convenient experiences for travellers.
Airports in the UAE, including Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, have made significant strides in adopting digital boarding passes and getting rid of long check-in queues.
Since 2023, Emirates airline requires most passengers departing from Dubai to use a mobile boarding pass instead of a printed paper version. Passengers checking in at Terminal 3 receive their mobile boarding pass via email or SMS.
DXB also offers self check-in kiosks where passengers can check in, select seats, add their frequent flyer number, and obtain a mobile boarding pass sent to their email or via an SMS link.
DXB has also implemented Smart Gates that allow UAE citizens, residents, GCC nationals, and visa-on-arrival visitors with biometric passports to pass through immigration quickly using their passport, boarding pass, or a valid UAE ID. Abu Dhabi Airports is also developing a 'Smart Travel' project with the ambitious goal of becoming the world's first fully document-free airport by 2025.
Concerns and challenges
That said, the proposal has also been met with some criticisms. According to media reports, one of the biggest challenges is that airports – especially the smaller ones – will have to invest significantly in upgrading their infrastructure to support the new system, including installing facial recognition cameras, mobile passport scanners, and real-time data synchronisation systems. This could be an expensive ordeal.
There are also concerns about potential exclusion for travellers who may not have smartphones or are uncomfortable with facial recognition technology, according to an IDTechWire report.
Commenting on security concerns, Amadeus told The Guardian that it had developed a system where passengers' details were wiped within 15 seconds of each contact with a 'touchpoint' – such as the pre-security gates.
Also read: Dubai Property: After Burj Azizi, Soon-to-launch Trump Tower is Feeling the Buzz
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