Brisbane Airport has started a trial using biometrics from check-in to boarding.
The Australian airport is trialling biometrics which allows passengers to present their details at a self-service kiosk at check-in and then use an automated boarding gate using facial recognition to board the aircraft.
The project uses SITA’s Smart Path and the single token concept.
This means that a passenger’s identity is verified and authenticated by matching their passport and their biometrics only once throughout their journey.
The passenger’s biometric details are captured at the first point in the journey.
In the Brisbane trial that point is the check-in kiosk and the biometric used is the passenger’s face. The passport is authenticated and the biometrics of the passenger (face) are matched to the biometrics in the ePassport. The single token is then created.
This means that after check in/enrollment the passenger can store their passport and use only their face to identify themselves at self bag drop, border control or aircraft boarding.
Air New Zealand passengers are the first to trial Smart Path at Brisbane Airport, with plans to expand the service to more international airlines in the coming months.
SITA has a video that shows the concept in full.
“This is a great opportunity for passengers to help shape the future of travel. We’re always striving to improve the airport experience at Brisbane Airport and this trial will allow us to test and refine new technology that we hope will make standard check-in and boarding processes more efficient and secure in the very near future.”
Sumesh Patel, SITA President, Asia Pacific:
“Australia has long been recognized as a leader in secure border management and passenger processing. Now Brisbane Airport is leading the way with SITA Smart Path. This is a single, secure, self-service process which simplifies passenger processing for everyone – airlines, airports and border authorities. It is early days at Brisbane Airport but already the response from passengers has been positive.”
Smart Path can be extended throughout the airport to include any processes and checkpoints that require document checks. Over the coming months, Brisbane Airport and SITA will work together to use the technology in a variety of scenarios.
N.B. Image credit: SITA
