Quantcast

IATA's pilot advances seamless digital travel with biometrics

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
IATA's pilot advances seamless digital travel with biometrics
Research
Webp 7vk8jx654qs4jzy9d64ywka09c5d
Tony Concil Vice President, Corporate Communications | International Air Transport Association

In a recent proof of concept (PoC), two travelers successfully navigated a fully digital travel experience using digital wallets. These wallets contained their digital passport, company ID, and frequent flyer credentials, enabling them to receive personalized offers, book flights, obtain visas, check travel documentation, check-in, and receive boarding passes. The process was facilitated by biometric identification, allowing the travelers to manage airport procedures without repeatedly presenting physical documents.

Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security stated: “A seamless fully digital travel experience powered by digital identity and biometrics has moved from theory to proven reality. The challenge now is to make this more efficient travel experience available to all travelers. There is good reason for optimism. With One ID standards already in place and the expansion of Modern Airline Retailing to support digital identity with the highest levels of data privacy and protection, the industry could be ready for this in the very near future. Government efforts to adopt digital travel credentials based on ICAO standards are picking up pace. Europe is already planning to issue Digital Identity Wallets to citizens and residents by 2027.”

This pilot marks a significant step towards offering passengers more personalized, secure journeys through digital identity while maintaining traditional processing options for those who prefer them or as backups. The PoC demonstrated that IATA’s Modern Airline Retailing vision can enhance customer experiences harmoniously with current airline and airport processes.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Key elements validated during the trial included industry standards supporting digital travel experiences such as Verifiable Credentials (VCs) for live biometric images and boarding passes developed this year. A Visa VC also demonstrated paperless document verification capabilities. Draft Technical Guidance for Digitalization of Admissibility served as a baseline for defining interoperability requirements.

The PoC highlighted critical interoperability by using multiple VC issuers, verifiers, and wallets across different stages of travel at Hong Kong and Tokyo's Narita airports. This flexibility indicates that technology can adapt across jurisdictions smoothly.

Additionally, a Trusted Issuer Registry was tested successfully to verify credential issuance by trusted entities. An open ecosystem with both public and private sector credential issuers is deemed essential for widespread adoption.

The HKG-NRT PoC was developed within the IATA Data and Technology Hub which collaborates with industry partners across the travel value chain to create solutions addressing aviation challenges as it transitions towards digitalization.

For further details or inquiries:

Corporate Communications

Organizations Included in this History
More News

IndiGo has launched a new service from Mumbai to Seychelles, marking the first Indian carrier to operate this route in two decades.

Apr 1, 2025

Delta Air Lines has made changes to its flight operations between Detroit and Los Angeles, removing the Airbus A350-900 from the route's schedule.

Apr 1, 2025

Allegiant Air has announced the appointment of Victor Cipolla as manager of Inflight Training Operations.

Mar 31, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the official launch of a global cabin crew training program by Ethiopian Aviation University.

Mar 31, 2025

Atlas Air has announced that certified flight instructors from the Atlas Cadet Academy have commenced hands-on professional development at the Atlas Training Center.

Mar 31, 2025

Hector Nazario, the husband of Kenia Nazario, who is employed at Flying Food Group (FFG), expressed concerns about the union Unite Here.

Mar 31, 2025