Until the beginning of last year, traveling was the norm, something we took for granted. With the dawn of 2021, we hope to once again cross borders for business and vacations. Several initiatives have been introduced at airports to enhance efficiency while ensuring the safety of travelers and airport staff - most will not only limit interaction, but also optimize resources and reduce congestion.
Improving hygiene at airports to reassure travelers
Among the many initiatives deployed, two stand out the most; remote services and touchless technologies. Through the use of remote services, travelers can start their journeys from the comfort of their homes. For example, they can complete their biometric check-in securely using the airport/airline’s app on their smartphone. The app’s cutting-edge software contains presentation attack detection to prevent fraudulent activity.
There is also increased interest in contactless biometric technologies, as they will play a key role in mitigating hygiene concerns and regaining the confidence of travelers. These are not just ‘simple touchless technologies’, they are innovative touchless devices that identify travelers on the move, enabling greater efficiency and a better user experience, while respecting user privacy.
Among the vast touchless solutions currently being offered, the use of smartphones is obviously a key stone. At the kiosk by creating a mirror image of the information presented on the screen, travelers can use their smartphones to interact at distance with the airport/airline’s touchpoint - no need to touch the actual screens.
Even passports are about to be digitalized so that they can be securely stored and used through the traveler’s smartphone ,with at least the same level of security and interoperability than the physical document– this is called Digital Travel Credentials (DTC). Would this be a way to solve privacy issues and border control process time for a real end-to-end seamless passenger experience at airports?
How can governments ensure safe borders and protect its citizens?
Due to the pandemic, further checks may be required in addition to what is currently being done. It is fair to assume that these new checks will be related to the health status of travelers.
In order to permit cross-border travel, travelers will have to prove that they are healthy or vaccinated. Therefore, travel documents such as passports, visas, electronic travel authorizations or even a new ‘sanitary passport’ may incorporate data on passengers' health statuses.
All this data could be integrated into existing border control systems, as well as the interactive Advanced Passenger Information (API) systems or Passenger Name Record (PNR) analytics solutions. This would allow the relevant government agencies to perform the necessary traveler checks in advance, enabling them to welcome bona fide travelers or anticipate appropriate measures if otherwise necessary.
It could be useful to know if a traveler has flown from, or transited in, a ‘high-risk’ area before arriving at their final destination, or if they were in close proximity to infected passengers on a plane. As always, an appropriate balance between security and privacy will have to be actively maintained. Holistic regulation and standardization should be mandatory in order to ensure efficiency, interoperability and serenity for passengers.
The current risk assessment solutions will have to adapt in order to integrate new business rules and industry needs that take into account epidemic threats such as COVID-19.
This contribution is essential to ensuring that the industry is resilient and relevant, and that travelers and staff are safe. All in all, additional health checks, coupled with an ultra-contactless biometric experience are the key to enabling the air transportation industry to regain the confidence of travelers.
Franck Maurin
Product and Solutions Director
Passenger Facilitation & Border Control
IDEMIA
