IATA partnered with Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong International Airport, Narita International Airport, as well as technology and user identification related companies for the travel late last month. The airport elements of the PoC were conducted in a live environment.
Two travellers used digital wallets containing their digital passport, company ID, and frequent flyer credentials to obtain personalised offers, book a flight, obtain a visa, check their travel documentation, check-in and receive boarding passes.
The travellers used biometric identification to manage airport processes in a live environment without repeatedly showing their travel documents. The successful journey integrated seven verifiable credentials (ePassport copy, live biometric image, visa copy, company ID, frequent flyer membership, order, and boarding pass), two digital wallets and a trust registry to verify issuers.
‘A seamless fully digital travel experience powered by digital identity and biometrics has moved from theory to proven reality. The challenge now is to make this more efficient travel experience available to all travellers,’ says Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice president for operations, safety and security.
‘There is good reason for optimism. With One ID standards already in place and the expansion of modern airline retailing to support digital identity with the highest levels of data privacy and protection, the industry could be ready for this in the very near future. Government efforts to adopt digital travel credentials based on ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards are picking up pace. Europe is already planning to issue Digital Identity Wallets to citizens and residents by 2027.’
