Boarding Passes & Check-Ins May Soon Be Replaced By Facial Recognition At Airports

My favorite thing about having Nexus to travel is skipping long security lines and seeing the disgusted looks from travellers in regular lines. But with AI taking over almost in every way of our lives it's time that travel came into the future.

The days of fumbling for boarding passes or standing in long check-in lines may soon be over. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), under the guidance of the United Nations, is preparing to launch a groundbreaking system that could phase out physical travel documents entirely within the next three years.

At the core of this transformation is a digital travel credential system—essentially a “journey pass” stored on your smartphone. This pass would automatically update with any booking changes and allow passengers to verify their identity via facial recognition at various airport checkpoints, from security to boarding gates.

Rather than presenting paper passports or barcoded boarding passes, travelers will upload their passport details to their mobile devices. Upon arrival at the airport, facial scans will confirm their identity and alert airlines of their presence—eliminating the need for traditional check-in altogether.

According to Valérie Viale, director of product management at Amadeus, this marks the most significant shift in air travel infrastructure since e-ticketing replaced paper tickets in the early 2000s. “The industry is finally catching up to the level of integration and automation that companies like Amazon have achieved,” she stated.

While the change promises a smoother, faster airport experience, implementing it will require a complete overhaul of current airport technology. Airports must install advanced facial recognition systems and create secure digital environments capable of handling sensitive passport data.

To address privacy concerns, companies like Amadeus have designed systems that erase biometric and personal information within seconds after use. Additionally, the system is expected to offer real-time travel adjustments, including automatic rebooking in case of delays or missed connections—removing the need for travelers to wait in service lines.

If successful, the ICAO’s initiative could revolutionize air travel for billions, transforming it into a seamless, touch-free experience from booking to boarding.

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Source: GB News

Photo Credit: Dreamwork Pictures