Over 60 participants from airlines, airports, regulators and IT service providers attended IATA’s inaugural One ID workshop for the Asia-Pacific and North Asia regions in Hong Kong from 3 to 4 August 2023. The workshop was held in conjunction with the Hong Kong Aviation Day organized by IATA and the Airport Authority of Hong Kong (AAHK).
Attendees of the workshop had the opportunity to gain greater insights into the One ID concept, its future end-state, and the standards. AAHK and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) also presented their respective biometric initiatives: Hong Kong International Airport’s Flight Token and U.S. CBP’s Biometric Exit.
The workshop participants engaged in discussions on the implementation of the One ID vision, including identifying and overcoming challenges, addressing privacy and data protection considerations as well as the need for regulatory support. The workshop also provided a valuable platform for networking among industry peers and the sharing of ideas and experiences.
“One trend that has emerged from COVID-19 is that it has accelerated the digitization of air travel. Travellers want improved convenience throughout their journey, and digitization and the use of biometrics is the way to speed up the travel journey. And most importantly, governments are more willing to accept digital credentials instead of paper documents. IATA’s One ID initiative will be a key piece of the jigsaw to accelerate the industry’s digitization,” said Vinoop Goel, IATA’s Regional Director for Airports and External Relations.
