Muscat: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a directory to help airlines implement contactless travel solutions.
Contactless travel uses interoperable biometric solutions to enable travelers to move through the travel process without relying on paper documentation such as passports or boarding passes.
Parts of the travel process that could be made more efficient with contactless travel include bag drop, lounge access, security access, security screening, and boarding.
Key features of the Contactless Travel Directory are a single reference point for airlines to determine the availability of biometric travel touchpoints across their network, the
The traveler eligibility information by location, so airlines know which travelers (nationality, passport compatibility, and age) will be eligible for contactless services using biometric identification.
How it works during a journey:
Check-in Begins: The passenger starts check-in on their airline’s app.
After check-in, the airline’s app queries the Contactless Travel Directory.
Service Availability & Requirements: The Directory returns details on available Contactless Travel services along the passenger’s itinerary, eligibility, required actions (e.g. sharing a boarding pass, passport information), and technical integration details.
Passenger Notification: The airline app informs the passenger: "To use Contactless Travel, you must share your boarding pass and passport details."
Consent & Data Sharing: The passenger provides consent, and the airline app facilitates secure data sharing across relevant systems.
Seamless Travel: The passenger moves through contactless touchpoints effortlessly, without needing further action.
“The release of the Contactless Travel Directory will make it easier for airlines to expand biometric service opportunities for their customers. As travelers expect ever greater efficiency, biometric recognition technology is taking on a growing role in facilitating travel.
This Directory, along with IATA’s One ID initiative, aims to accelerate that transition with critical data and global standards,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.
IATA’s One ID initiative aims to streamline the passenger journey with advanced sharing of information and a contactless process at the airport based on biometric-enabled identification. By obtaining all necessary authorizations and demonstrating admissibility to travel before departure, passengers will be ‘Ready to Fly’ before they arrive at the airport. Travel experience can be further enhanced through digital identity technology, allowing passengers to move through airport touchpoints swiftly without showing physical documents.
Digital services provider Airware, Idemia, and iPassport will be the first to demonstrate the use of the directory at the upcoming Passenger Terminal Expo, taking place in Madrid this week.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
