Passengers at six airports in Thailand can now use biometrics instead of a traditional ID at several checkpoints.
The airports will use facial recognition to identify passengers at bag drop, security checks and boarding instead of via a passport and/or boarding pass.
Airports of Thailand is introducing the AI-powered facial recognition system to make passenger processing faster and improve the passenger experience.
The Thai authority is introducing the facial recognition system at:
- Suvarnabhumi (BKK)
- Don Mueang (DMK)
- Chiang Mai (CNX)
- Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai (CEI)
- Phuket (HKT)
- Hat Yai (HDY)
Domestic passengers are already using the system and international passengers can use it from 01 December.
The AOT says passengers have to consent for their biometric data to be used and it is deleted once the journey is complete. Hmm.
Thailand is implementing the biometric system in line with the standards of the International Air Transport Authority’s (IATA’s) One ID program. That claims to streamline the passenger journey with advance sharing of information and a contactless process at the airport based on biometric identification.
One ID is based on two key pillars:
- Digitalization of Admissibility: passengers obtain authorizations in advance of travel directly from the destination government and demonstrate to the airline their admissibility to travel.
- Contactless Travel: use of passenger biometrics at airports
IATA, the airline’s ‘trade union’ has been working to impose this system for over five years.
How it works
Passengers can opt in, at least for now.
- Enrol – Passengers enrol their biometric and other travel details.
- Create token – The biometric system creates a digital identity token.
- Use token – At later checkpoints, cameras scan the passenger biometrics and check those live details against those in the token.
Enrol
Passengers opting to use the biometric system can enrol their details at check-in desks or self check-in kiosks.
Once enrolled, passengers consent to the use of their biometric data for that specific journey.
Create token
When a passenger enrols their data, the system creates a Token with that data (and more).
Use token
The token is the made available to multiple systems throughout the airport and it is used for each check at the airport e,g. lounge access, access to duty free shopping.
Supplier
The new biometric system for the Thai airports comes from SITA, a long term partner with Thai airports.
