Traditional check-in desks and paper boarding passes could soon become obsolete as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) prepares to implement sweeping changes to passenger travel through airports.
Under new rules expected within the next two to three years, passengers may be able to upload their passports to smartphones and pass through departure gates using only facial recognition technology. The proposed system, a “digital travel credential,” would replace passports, boarding passes, and other travel documents.
Valérie Viale, director of product management at travel technology firm Amadeus, described the changes as the most significant shift in aviation in five decades.
“The last upgrade of great scale was the adoption of e-ticketing in the early 2000s,” Viale told The Times. “Now, the industry has decided it’s time to upgrade to modern systems that are more like what Amazon would use.”
The digital journey pass would include real-time updates on flight status and could even automatically notify car rental companies of any delays. At the airport, passengers would check in via facial recognition scanners that verify their identity and travel status. Those with hold luggage would proceed to a bag drop and then continue through security as usual.
While some travelers may have privacy concerns, the ICAO has said that all scanned data will be deleted within 15 seconds, and airport systems will store no information.
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However, industry experts have questioned the system’s reliability, particularly in light of a significant Microsoft outage in July last year that disrupted global air travel and healthcare systems.
Despite the risks, the technology promises to streamline airport procedures and reduce waiting times — a change frequent fliers and holidaymakers could welcome.