Digital IDs May Replace Check-In and Boarding Passes Soon

Air travel could soon undergo a major transformation, with boarding passes and traditional check-in processes potentially phased out within the next three years. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency overseeing global aviation standards, is pushing for the introduction of a digital travel credential that could change how passengers move through airports.

Under the new system, travelers would store their passport details on their smartphones and receive a dynamic “journey pass” when booking flights. This pass would automatically update with any changes and eliminate the need for manual check-in or printed boarding passes. Instead, passengers would be identified using facial recognition upon arriving at the airport, notifying airlines of their intent to travel.

The technology aims to streamline airport procedures and enhance passenger convenience, similar to the shift to e-ticketing in the early 2000s. Valérie Viale, product director at travel tech company Amadeus, called it the biggest industry upgrade in 50 years. She emphasized that many airline systems have not significantly changed in decades and are now due for a modern overhaul.

While the system promises efficiency, it also raises privacy concerns. Amadeus said passenger data would be deleted within 15 seconds of interaction with each airport checkpoint. Future benefits include real-time rebooking for missed connections, with new flight details sent directly to passengers’ phones and journey passes updated automatically.

For the rollout to succeed, airports will need to invest in infrastructure such as biometric scanning and digital passport readers. The shift could redefine the entire passenger experience worldwide.

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