IATA has worked with partners to demonstrate a fully digital air travel experience using digital wallets and biometrics, demonstrating the potential for wider implementation.
BANGKOK – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its partners have demonstrated that the industry is ready to deliver a fully digital air travel experience. This was achieved in a proof of concept (PoC) where two passengers used different digital wallets and travel credentials on a round trip between Hong Kong and Tokyo.
IATA partnered with Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong International Airport, Narita International Airport, Brunchspace, FaceFi, NEC, Neoku, Northern Block and SICPA for travel on 21st and 22nd October. The airport element of this PoC was conducted in a real environment, building on the first PoC conducted in a test environment in 2023.
In the PoC, two travelers can use a digital wallet containing a digital passport, company ID, and frequent flyer credentials to get personalized offers, book flights, obtain visas, verify travel documents, check-in, I received my boarding pass. Travelers used biometrics to manage airport processes in a real-world environment without having to repeatedly present travel documents. This successful journey includes seven verifiable credentials (electronic passport copy, live biometric image, visa copy, company ID, frequent flyer, purchase order, boarding pass), two digital wallets, and an issuer. A trust registry has been integrated for validation.
“A seamless, fully digital travel experience powered by digital ID 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 to be optimistic, with the One ID standard already in place and Modern Airlines Retailing’s expansion to support digital identity with the highest levels of data privacy and protection. Governments are already accelerating their efforts to adopt digital travel credentials based on ICAO standards by 2027. “We are planning to issue an identity wallet,” said Nick Carine, IATA’s senior vice president of operations, safety and security.
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The pilot’s success is an important step towards a seamless digital travel experience, allowing airlines to use digital ID to provide passengers with a more personalized, safe and efficient journey, while reducing traditional manual It ensures availability for those who wish to process it or if backup systems are not available. It is necessary.
The PoC demonstrated that IATA’s latest airline retailing vision and IATA’s One ID standard can harmonize with existing airline/airport processes to seamlessly improve the customer experience from shopping to travel. With the traveler’s identity securely stored in a digital wallet, travelers can navigate various airport checkpoints such as baggage drop, security, immigration, and boarding without presenting physical documents. You can consent to sharing your biometrics as you pass through. In doing so, several other key elements of the digital travel experience were examined.
Industry standards that support digital travel experiences are fit for purpose. The Live Biometric VC and Boarding Pass VC Verifiable Credentials (VC) developed this year have been successfully tested. Additionally, we successfully demonstrated paperless document verification using Visa VC. The draft technical guidance on digitalization of acceptability was used as a baseline to properly define interoperability requirements. Critical interoperability: Two travelers successfully used multiple VC issuers, validators, and wallets on a round trip, providing the necessary technology flexibility across journey stages and jurisdictions. Verified. VC seamlessly integrated with existing biometric systems at both Hong Kong and Tokyo’s Narita Airports. Trusted Publisher Registry successfully tested: This system verifies that the credential was issued by a trusted entity. To enable widespread adoption, an open ecosystem of both public and private sector credential issuers is desired, and such validation will be important. IATA Data and Technology Hub
The HKG-NRT PoC was developed at the IATA Data and Technology Hub. The hub brings together industry partners from across the travel value chain to develop solutions and test new technologies to overcome industry challenges. Its aim is to help the aviation industry create value as it transitions to digitalisation.
Vicky is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the TravelDailyNews Media Network. She is also responsible for day-to-day operations and financial policy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Business Management from the Athens University of Technology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of experience in the travel industry, both academic and industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
