It is now time to scale up the use of digital ID systems across the global commercial aviation industry, SITA senior VP Jeremy Springall has affirmed. (SITA is the aviation industry’s specialist IT and related technologies solutions group.) He was reflecting on the call last week by the global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association, made at the annual Sydney Leaders Week conference in Australia, for the rapid adoption of these systems, worldwide.

He pointed out that biometric and digital technologies were greatly improving the travel experience for everyone, by way of such conveniences as digital pre-clearance to biometric verification. This was making travel faster, more efficient, but also more secure. But the deployment of such technologies was currently both limited (for example, only for air crews) and fragmented.

“Many in the industry have embraced digital identity in isolated projects but without interoperability, we risk creating a patchwork of disconnected experiences across different borders, airlines, and airports,” he warned. “An open, industry-wide approach – where systems work together seamlessly – is the only way to make digital identity truly scalable and valuable for everyone.”

Digital ID verification technology would allow a more streamlined approach that would bring benefits to the entire industry as well as to the passengers. It would result in fewer delays at check-in, baggage deposition and security. It would reduce congestion at border control and boarding. The result would be a more efficient flow of passengers, with minimal operational disruptions. The outcome, for airports, airlines and governments, would be greater throughput and reduced costs. For passengers, the outcome would be a better travel experience.  

And, he pointed out, passengers already expected to have a faster, digital-enabled, experience. SITA research showed that 68% of passengers would pay to use biometrics for travelling, while 75% were relaxed about using a digital ID on their smartphones.

“For years, airports, airlines and governments have struggled to balance security with a frictionless travel experience. Too often, one has come at the expense of the other,” noted Springall. “Digital identity changes that. By verifying travellers instantly, it strengthens security while keeping passengers moving. Governments can combat fraud more effectively; airports can reduce bottlenecks at critical touchpoints, and airlines can drive cost savings through faster turnaround time while being certain passenger data is accurate.”

Making digital ID work required governments, technology providers, airports and airlines to be aligned in a framework that put privacy first while also prioritising security and transparency, he stressed. But with many governments already putting digital ID systems in place for other services, it was a logical next step to extend these to travel, by means of Digital Travel Credentials.