Implementation of a digital identity in travel needs to work end-to-end for travelers to realize its benefits – not just at one airport or on a specific airline, but across every stage of their journey.
While the travel industry has been working on implementing biometrics for some years, multiple disparate initiatives from several providers mean that travelers are required to fill in their identification details on multiple occasions.
At a time when it is crucial to reduce new travel frictions caused by responses to COVID-19, and to increase traveler confidence, Amadeus and Star Alliance are announcing a milestone partnership that will allow travelers enrolled in Star Alliance Biometrics or in Amadeus Traveler ID the benefit of accessing a growing number of airports where identity verification can be utilized during their journey.
By joining forces, Amadeus and Star Alliance are creating a more global, frictionless, and touchless journey for the millions of frequent flyers enrolled in the respective programs of its member airlines.
Star Alliance Biometrics, launched last month, allows passengers to pass through curb-to-gate touchpoints within airports, such as check-in kiosks, bag-drop, and boarding gates, which traditionally require both passport and boarding pass, by using a secure identity management solution featuring facial recognition technology, allowing for a touchless experience at airports, an important safety feature in times of COVID-19.
At the same time, Amadeus’ secure and agnostic identity data exchange and verification solution, Traveler ID, enables a simplified experience across the entire travel chain by connecting a passenger’s digital ID to any online and biometric portal at opportune moments of the traveler journey. In the future, these passengers will be able to use their Traveler ID to also access existing or new airports that have implemented the Star Alliance Biometrics solution.
In both programs, travelers consent to share their biometric data with the stakeholders of their choice in full accordance with data privacy regulations.
