While biometric facial recognition is not new technology in the aviation industry, airlines and airports are increasingly committed to trailing identity management systems to promote frictionless international travel and improve the overall customer experience at airports.
Air New Zealand is one such carrier, with ambitions to become the world’s leading digital airline – with the introduction of biometric facial recognition verification at its Los Angeles-LAX boarding gates being the latest step towards this goal.
The airline’s customers can register their biometric data with the US Customs and Border Protection agency upon entry to the US. This is then used for verification purposes at automated boarding kiosks. The protected biometric data is not shared with Air New Zealand or other airlines using biometric technology, and customers can always opt out of the automated process.
San Francisco will be the next US airport to see the introduction of the biometric gate technology, followed by the airline’s other US airports, though the timeline is unknown.
British Airways has been using biometric boarding processes on domestic flights at Heathrow since 2017. But now, for the first time, the airline is conducting international trials for six-month on flights between London Heathrow T5 and Malaga Airport, Spain.
Select customers will be invited to scan their face, passport, and boarding pass to their smartphone or tablet at home up to three days before departure via an emailed link. Upon arrival at Heathrow Airport, biometric cameras called ‘Smart Bio-Pods’ will recognise the passengers from the data submitted. Passengers then won’t need to present their passports until they arrive at Malaga Airport – streamlining the airport process and reducing the time it takes to board an aircraft.
While these trial passengers will still need to show boarding passes at Heathrow security, they will be eligible for the fast-track security lane and receive complimentary priority boarding.
BA is expected to extend the technology to further international flights upon successful trial completion.
Read the First-Class.com review of Air New Zealand Business Class
Read the First-Class.com review of British Airways Business Class
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