Quantcast

IATA's pilot advances seamless digital travel with biometrics

United Airlines doubles down on Chicago roots with new O'Hare billboards
Gatwick airport strikes, Easter 2025: will my flight be cancelled?
Boarding passes and check-in could be scrapped in air travel shake-up
European air traffic warning means summer delays for holidaymakers
The EU rule change that could affect millions of Brits when their flight is delayed or cancelled
Delta Earnings Land Soon. Why They’re Key for Airline Stocks and the Economy.
Avelo Airlines to Operate Deportation Flights, Hiring Flight Attendants
Travel chaos 2025: all the strikes and disruption expected across Europe
Qatar Airways accelerates Starlink wifi implementation
Southwest Airlines extends flight schedule through early April 2025
Cathay Pacific reaches 3,400 pilots this year, with low resignation rate of 2.9%
United receives FAA approval for first Starlink-equipped planes
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
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

Airlines for America announced on X that it is promoting the 2025 joint ATA e-Business Forum & S1000D User Forum, scheduled for October 6–8 in Montreal, Canada.

Apr 21, 2025

Air India has announced on the social media platform X that it is promoting DigiYatra for contactless travel on domestic flights.

Apr 21, 2025

Flying Food Group has announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is promoting open positions across the United States and encouraging job seekers to apply.

Apr 21, 2025

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced on the social media platform X that Hawaiian Airlines will be relocating its operations to Terminal 6.

Apr 21, 2025

Flying Food Group has announced on the social media platform X that it is hiring station attendants for airline catering positions in Hawaii.

Apr 21, 2025

Etihad Airways has announced its support for DigiYatra, an Indian government platform that facilitates contactless travel through facial recognition technology.

Apr 21, 2025