For airlines and other international travel providers, managing inadmissible passengers (INADs) has always been a challenge. But the nature of the problem is changing. It’s not just about expired passports or forgotten visas anymore. Increasingly, INAD cases are caused by frequently changing entry rules which vary widely from one country to another.
In recent years, the landscape has become even more complex. Governments have introduced new requirements around health documents, electronic travel authorizations, and specific conditions for travellers like unaccompanied minors or seafarers. For frontline staff, keeping track of these rules across hundreds of routes and passenger types is no small task. And for travellers, missing a detail can lead to delays, denied boarding, or worse.
At ICTS Europe Systems, our focus has been on helping airlines manage this complexity. Through our TravelDoc platform, we support more than 40 airlines with automated checks that validate entry compliance based on the latest government regulations. Every year, over 1 billion checks are performed using the tool across more than 200 countries and territories.
What makes this kind of support valuable is that it works across the journey. Entry requirements are assessed from the moment a booking is made, through online check-in, all the way to the airport gate - giving airlines multiple opportunities to identify potential issues early. We have a team who update the tool hundreds of times a day to ensure guidance is both current and accurate.
Not every passenger fits a standard travel profile. A 16-year-old flying alone, someone connecting through a third country, or a dual national heading home, all of them face different rules. For staff, these kinds of details can be easy to miss, especially when juggling dozens of check-in cases a day.
That’s where automation is making a difference. By handling these complex checks in the background, systems can catch potential issues early, before they cause problems at the airport.
At the end of the day, reducing INADs isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s about helping people get where they’re going without unnecessary disruption. When compliance works quietly in the background, everyone benefits, passengers feel more confident, staff are better supported, and operations run more smoothly.
Written by Archie David, Marketing Manager
*Find out more about ICTS Europe Systems engagement in the IATA's Strategic Partnerships Program on the partners directory.
