Lufthansa is planning to expand the use of biometric boarding at U.S. airports following a successful trial at Los Angeles.
The trial uses facial recognition technology to allow passengers to board the aircraft without the need to show a boarding pass or passport at the gate
During the initial trial, Lufthansa boarded an A380 with 350 passengers in about 20 minutes.
How it works
- Self-boarding gates with facial recognition cameras capture passengers’ facial images as they approach the device
- This image is securely sent to the CBP database for real-time matching and verification
- After a successful match, the system recognizes the passenger as “boarded”
- The passenger no longer needs to show a boarding pass or passport at the gate
Bjoern Becker, Senior Director, Product Management Ground and Digital Services for Lufthansa:
“The increasing need for airlines, airports and authorities to offer faster and more convenient processes for guests to move through the airport creates a unique opportunity for the use of biometrics.
“Lufthansa strives to enhance the customer experience by applying advanced technologies and innovative solutions. This is a further step towards achieving that goal.”
British Airways is already using facial recognition biometrics at 4 U.S. airports.
