Latest news with #ValérieViale
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Facial recognition and phone-based boarding passes: Why the future of flying could be paperless
If a ground-breaking proposal comes to pass, you may soon be saying bon voyage to boarding passes. In one of the most significant shake-ups to air travel in decades, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has announced plans to eliminate paper boarding passes and check-in as we know it. Instead, passengers could use a digital travel credential - stored on their smartphones - to move through airports using facial recognition. Developed by the ICAO, the UN agency that sets global aviation standards, the digital credential would be used alongside facial recognition to replace physical documents throughout the airport, from bag drop to the boarding gate. Travellers would download a 'journey pass' that updates automatically if any changes occur, such as a flight delay or cancellation. Trials of these novel solutions are already taking off. Countries such as Finland have already launched a DTC pilot programme, while airports have experimented with the use of this emerging technology. Singapore's Changi has expanded its biometric lanes, and in 2019, Amsterdam's Schiphol introduced facial recognition technology for boarding on select flights. Airlines have also begun to embrace digitalisation. As soon as November this year, Ryanair has announced plans to scrap paper boarding passes. The plan comes as airlines and airports seek to streamline operations and reduce costs, especially as global travel continues its post-pandemic rebound. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of air passengers is expected to double to eight billion by 2040. That surge will place pressure on airports to process passengers more efficiently. Digital IDs are seen as a key solution to that growing challenge. Related Could your next trip be planned by a virtual travel agent? announces new AI Trip Planner What would a single-ticket booking system mean for your next European train adventure? But there's another motivator: security. The ICAO says the new system could help crack down on identity fraud and human trafficking by providing a more robust way to verify who's flying. By relying on biometric data, which is unique to each person, the system promises greater accuracy than paper-based documentation can provide on its own. Valérie Viale, director of product management for travel technology company Amadeus, told The Times that these changes could be the most consequential since the adoption of e-ticketing in the early 2000s. 'The industry has now decided it's time to upgrade to modern systems that are more like what Amazon would use,' she said. If the plans develop as the ICAO envisions, boarding passes are only the beginning. Even passports could become a thing of the past in the future. Related Delayed flight? It could soon be harder for you to claim compensation from airlines Toronto plane crash is 2025's latest: Is flying still the safest form of transport? Despite digitalisation being a boon to traveller convenience, not everyone is on board. Critics have voiced concerns about privacy, surveillance and data breaches. Others have decried the lack of transparency around the technologies being deployed. For its part, Amadeus has sought to reassure travellers. The company has said that its newly developed system will wipe passenger data within 15 seconds of contact with any 'touchpoint,' such as baggage drop or pre-security checks. And the ICAO insists that developing a digital travel credential remains optional for every nation. That means you can keep your passport and boarding passes on hand for now. But don't be surprised if your smartphone or face soon becomes your ticket to fly.
Euronews
15-04-2025
- Euronews
Facial recognition and phone-based boarding passes: Why the future of flying could be paperless
ADVERTISEMENT If a ground-breaking proposal comes to pass, you may soon be saying bon voyage to boarding passes. In one of the most significant shake-ups to air travel in decades, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has announced plans to eliminate paper boarding passes and check-in as we know it. Instead, passengers could use a digital travel credential - stored on their smartphones - to move through airports using facial recognition. A digital ID to pilot the future of travel Developed by the ICAO, the UN agency that sets global aviation standards, the digital credential would be used alongside facial recognition to replace physical documents throughout the airport, from bag drop to the boarding gate. Travellers would download a 'journey pass' that updates automatically if any changes occur, such as a flight delay or cancellation. Trials of these novel solutions are already taking off. Countries such as Finland have already launched a DTC pilot programme, while airports have experimented with the use of this emerging technology. Singapore's Changi has expanded its biometric lanes, and in 2019, Amsterdam 's Schiphol introduced facial recognition technology for boarding on select flights. Airlines have also begun to embrace digitalisation. As soon as November this year, Ryanair has announced plans to scrap paper boarding passes. Why now? The plan comes as airlines and airports seek to streamline operations and reduce costs, especially as global travel continues its post-pandemic rebound. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of air passengers is expected to double to eight billion by 2040. That surge will place pressure on airports to process passengers more efficiently. Digital IDs are seen as a key solution to that growing challenge. Related Could your next trip be planned by a virtual travel agent? announces new AI Trip Planner What would a single-ticket booking system mean for your next European train adventure? But there's another motivator: security. The ICAO says the new system could help crack down on identity fraud and human trafficking by providing a more robust way to verify who's flying. By relying on biometric data , which is unique to each person, the system promises greater accuracy than paper-based documentation can provide on its own. Privacy, please Valérie Viale, director of product management for travel technology company Amadeus, told The Times that these changes could be the most consequential since the adoption of e-ticketing in the early 2000s. 'The industry has now decided it's time to upgrade to modern systems that are more like what Amazon would use,' she said. If the plans develop as the ICAO envisions, boarding passes are only the beginning. Even passports could become a thing of the past in the future. ADVERTISEMENT Related Delayed flight? It could soon be harder for you to claim compensation from airlines Toronto plane crash is 2025's latest: Is flying still the safest form of transport? Despite digitalisation being a boon to traveller convenience, not everyone is on board. Critics have voiced concerns about privacy , surveillance and data breaches. Others have decried the lack of transparency around the technologies being deployed. For its part, Amadeus has sought to reassure travellers. The company has said that its newly developed system will wipe passenger data within 15 seconds of contact with any 'touchpoint,' such as baggage drop or pre-security checks. And the ICAO insists that developing a digital travel credential remains optional for every nation. That means you can keep your passport and boarding passes on hand for now. But don't be surprised if your smartphone or face soon becomes your ticket to fly. ADVERTISEMENT
Gulf Insider
15-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
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
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Facial recognition and phone-based boarding passes: Why the future of flying could be paperless
If a ground-breaking proposal comes to pass, you may soon be saying bon voyage to boarding passes. In one of the most significant shake-ups to air travel in decades, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has announced plans to eliminate paper boarding passes and check-in as we know it. Instead, passengers could use a digital travel credential - stored on their smartphones - to move through airports using facial recognition. Developed by the ICAO, the UN agency that sets global aviation standards, the digital credential would be used alongside facial recognition to replace physical documents throughout the airport, from bag drop to the boarding gate. Travellers would download a 'journey pass' that updates automatically if any changes occur, such as a flight delay or cancellation. Trials of these novel solutions are already taking off. Countries such as Finland have already launched a DTC pilot programme, while airports have experimented with the use of this emerging technology. Singapore's Changi has expanded its biometric lanes, and in 2019, Amsterdam's Schiphol introduced facial recognition technology for boarding on select flights. Airlines have also begun to embrace digitalisation. As soon as November this year, Ryanair has announced plans to scrap paper boarding passes. The plan comes as airlines and airports seek to streamline operations and reduce costs, especially as global travel continues its post-pandemic rebound. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of air passengers is expected to double to eight billion by 2040. That surge will place pressure on airports to process passengers more efficiently. Digital IDs are seen as a key solution to that growing challenge. Related Could your next trip be planned by a virtual travel agent? announces new AI Trip Planner What would a single-ticket booking system mean for your next European train adventure? But there's another motivator: security. The ICAO says the new system could help crack down on identity fraud and human trafficking by providing a more robust way to verify who's flying. By relying on biometric data, which is unique to each person, the system promises greater accuracy than paper-based documentation can provide on its own. Valérie Viale, director of product management for travel technology company Amadeus, told The Times that these changes could be the most consequential since the adoption of e-ticketing in the early 2000s. 'The industry has now decided it's time to upgrade to modern systems that are more like what Amazon would use,' she said. If the plans develop as the ICAO envisions, boarding passes are only the beginning. Even passports could become a thing of the past in the future. Related Delayed flight? It could soon be harder for you to claim compensation from airlines Toronto plane crash is 2025's latest: Is flying still the safest form of transport? Despite digitalisation being a boon to traveller convenience, not everyone is on board. Critics have voiced concerns about privacy, surveillance and data breaches. Others have decried the lack of transparency around the technologies being deployed. For its part, Amadeus has sought to reassure travellers. The company has said that its newly developed system will wipe passenger data within 15 seconds of contact with any 'touchpoint,' such as baggage drop or pre-security checks. And the ICAO insists that developing a digital travel credential remains optional for every nation. That means you can keep your passport and boarding passes on hand for now. But don't be surprised if your smartphone or face soon becomes your ticket to fly.
