Left: Visitors flock to SITA’s stand at Passenger Terminal Expo to view the new biometric solution
Air transport IT provider SITA has unveiled its new Smart Path biometric solution today at Passenger Terminal Expo 2016, which is taking place in Cologne, Germany, on March 15-17.
The new technology allows passengers to move through the airport and board the aircraft simply by presenting themselves for a biometric check at the beginning of their journey. Once verified there is no further need to present a boarding pass, passport or travel documents.
With SITA Smart Path, the passenger’s biometric details are captured through a facial scan at the first touch point in the journey. The record is checked against the passenger’s travel documents, typically the passport, and a secure single token is created. Then, at each step of the journey – from check-in to aircraft boarding or border control – passengers gain access simply with a facial scan and without having to show any further documentation.
SITA’s new offering can be integrated into existing airport infrastructure and airline systems, including standard common-use, self-service equipment such as check-in kiosks, bag-drop units and automated border control kiosks. Smart Path also integrates with government systems and databases, allowing integrated immigration and border checks.
Matthys Serfontein, vice president, airport solutions, SITA, said, “SITA has a strong record of introducing new self-service solutions across the entire passenger journey for both airlines and airports. But we also provide sophisticated border management systems to governments. Everyday hundreds of airlines use SITA technology to connect with government identity management and risk assessment systems in countries around the world.
“We have built on this unique expertise to create SITA Smart Path – a single, secure, self-service process using existing common-use infrastructure which works seamlessly with multiple airline and government systems. Smart Path simplifies secure, passenger processing for everyone – airlines, airports and border authorities.”
SITA is currently working with a number of airlines and airports to integrate biometrics into the passenger journey and expects that by 2020 travelers using biometrics will be the norm at airports across the world.
Serfontein, added, “The key to single token travel is gathering and verifying data as early in the process as possible in order to establish a robust token. This includes both biometric and biographic information. And then if necessary to update it with more detailed information from airline, airport or government systems at various steps in the journey. That is exactly how we have designed SITA Smart Path.”
