The International Civil Aviation Organization recently proposed a ground breaking global change to boarding passes, which it has dubbed ‘Journey Pass’.
The Journey Pass would revolutionise the check-in process in Australia and around the world by integrating biometric ID boarding and facial recognition technology, scrapping the need for traditional paper boarding passes and passports during check-in and security screening.
This forward-looking initiative, which has garnered support from the likes of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Flight Centre Travel Group, promises to reshape the future of air travel, ensuring greater efficiency and streamlined experiences for passengers worldwide.
John Morhous, Flight Centre Travel Group Chief Experience Officer, said embracing biometric ID and facial recognition technology in airports and through the check-in process marked an exciting transformation in air travel.
“This technology would have the potential to reduce check-in and boarding times by up to 30 per cent,” said Mr Morhous.
“That’s not just a win for convenience but also a significant stride towards cost reduction for airports and airlines. By eliminating manual processing and long queues, air travel becomes more seamless and stress-free for passengers.”
Morhous pointed to Singapore, which has implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals in Changi Airport for both arrivals and departures by simply using facial and iris biometrics.
“It takes no longer than 25 seconds and there is never a queue at the airport, making travelling a breeze. This has reduced the average clearance time per traveller by 60 per cent.
“There are still airport personnel around to assist anyone struggling or facing any issues. With automated clearance being the norm now, officers are redeployed to take on higher-value jobs that allow them to safeguard Singapore’s borders.
“While the advantages of fewer delays and improved cost savings are evident, addressing privacy concerns linked to facial recognition technology is an important consideration and one that travellers will need to be educated on and able to opt in and out of.
“With collaborative investment from airlines, governments, and industry bodies, this transition can be accelerated efficiently, perhaps with major Australian airports leading the charge.”
