BIOMETRICS
Biometric journey The transformative role of biometrics in our airports by Francoise Bergasse, Border and Travel Market Manager, Thales
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s more and more people travel around the world, technology has had to become increasingly sophisticated to deliver a frictionless travel experience, while providing a high level of security. . One of the most notable developments in this space is the implementation of biometrics throughout the airport terminal journey. This technology, which uses unique and identifiable features such as facial scans or fingerprints to verify passengers’ identity, has transformed how people travel and is a window into the future of travel security. Traditionally, security checks in airports have been a frustrating but necessary part of the travel experience. We all have experienced the downsides of this – from lengthy queues and delays to unnecessary
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hold-ups. The good news is that the use of biometrics in the form of e-gates or fingerprint terminals has the potential to eliminate these issues and expedite passenger checks to create a relaxing and secure travel environment. This technology can already be found in airports around the world, but mainstream adoption is yet to be seen. Utilising facial recognition software Although facial recognition software is not a recent industry development, it may come as a surprise to many that worldwide roll-out has been slow and is only just gathering pace. For the most part, its use has been accelerated by the rise of biometric technology in consumer gadgets, such as smartphone and gaming consoles, but there’s a capacity issue here too. By 2037, it’s estimated that 8.2 billion people will pass through
airports around the world, nearly double what is expected this year. As it stands, most airport terminals do not have the systems and processes in place to handle such heavy traffic and demand on resources. Biometric technology, mainly in the form of facial recognition, but sometimes fingerprint and iris scanning too, has been recognised as a solution that will not only manage the increased traffic levels, but provide a secure and frictionless passenger experience. Facial biometrics, in particular, has the advantage of offering a non-intrusive, on-the-go identity verification method which allows passengers to avoid any additional delays to their journey, while providing authorities with trustable data. Another area where we are seeing a growing use of biometrics is for ‘automated border-control’.
