Air travel is going to undergo a significant modernization, with traditional paper boarding permits becoming obsolete. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is finalizing plans to establish a digital travel credential that will allow all passport data to be kept immediately on your phone, eliminating the need for paper (or checking 20 times if you’ve packed it). However, this alteration extends beyond reading a QR code. It is about developing a digital identification that works globally, eliminating the need to stop at a counter. Instead, travelers will download a “journey pass” that will automatically update as flight information changes.
This way, airlines will know you’re ready to fly simply by scanning your face, and boarding could take place without revealing anything other than your face. Is this a revolution or a Black Mirror episode? We’ll explain everything below.
What is a digital credential?
In this case, it will function as a digital extension of the physical passport, similar to the Wallet app. This credential will be saved on your phone and used for identification throughout your trip, from booking your flight to retrieving your luggage from the carousel. One feature that stands out is that this credential will automatically update if your flight information changes or is updated.
Your face will be your boarding pass
This system will rely on identification verification, but not just any type; it will use facial recognition. As a result, airport security checks will not require documents. Your face will suffice (both during check-in and at the gate). Travelers carrying only hand luggage will be able to pass through checks quickly and easily using facial recognition.
When will this technology reach airports?
While there is no formal date set, some airlines have already begun testing the system. According to the product management director of Amadeus, the world’s largest travel technology company, this change is being studied alongside international bodies to ensure that it is safe, functional, and compatible in all countries, with the goal of implementing it gradually and synchronously around the world.
She also explained that airport systems have barely evolved in nearly five decades precisely because they must be implemented consistently everywhere. So, this move aims to reinvent how we access airports, with the goal of becoming the new global standard.
Which airlines have already tested it?
British Airways, Air France-KLM, Finnair, and Saudia Airlines were among the first to trial out this new technique. They also claim that the new credential will enable them to provide a more seamless, modern, and tailored experience to travelers. Everything suggests that the major airlines are close to adopting the new digital identity as the standard.
Does this system have any advantages?
This technique claims to eliminate lineups and prevent you from repeatedly checking if your tickets are with you. It’s predicted that verification would be more easier (because you won’t have to show personal info) and that the experience will be contactless, fast, and secure. But, as always, anything tech-related comes with two hazards. The first always relates to privacy, but it’s quite unlikely anyone could access this data, as your biometric information will be encrypted. The second relates to our seniors, for whom everything technology is getting increasingly difficult. From ATMs to smart phones, anything tech-related is constructing a wall between generations, making many older people feel more and more isolated from society.
We’re coming closer to a purely digital society, but we shouldn’t forget that humans are social beings, and interaction (even if it’s just to hand over your ID) isn’t a terrible thing!
