Plans for a biometric technology standard to fast-track
frequent flyers through airport check-in procedures and security
controls will be trialled in Europe later this year.
The secure travel initiative S-Travel aims to reduce check-in times
and cut costs for airlines. It is backed by an industry consortium
of airlines, airports and technology suppliers as part of an effort
to tighten airport security following the 11 September terrorist
attacks in the US.
The project, which was due to be piloted last year and has been
approved by the European Commission, aims to create the first
biometric technology standard for the airline industry.
Although airports around the world, including London and the US,
are experimenting with various forms of biometric technology, there
are concerns that the systems may not be compatible, minimising any
benefits to passengers and airlines.
A five-month trial for the would-be European standard will begin in
September involving Alitalia passengers travelling between Milan
and Athens.
Under the planned system, frequent flyers will carry smartcards
storing personal biometric information - eyes, fingerprints or
faces - which will be checked by security devices such as card
readers.
The biometric technology - iris scans, facial recognition or
fingerprints - has yet to be decided.
Radio frequency identi-fication tags are also being considered for
the project, which is being managed by airline industry supplier
Sita.
Passengers carrying radio frequency identification smartcards have
the added advantage of not having to insert their cards into
machine readers.
"Our goal is to make air travel easier," said Michel Saunier,
director of the S-Travel initiative at Sita. "The traveller does as
much as they can for themselves."
The scheme's success will hinge on getting European airlines and
airports to shelve technical differences and back industry
standards.
"At this stage there are plenty of experiments and pilots [of
biometric technology] taking place but the problem is of
interoperability," said Saunier.
"For example, a German airport would like to use a German
biometrics provider but a British airport might want to use British
technology. The goal is to use enrolment procedures that could be
used all over Europe."
The S-Travel scheme aims to minimise technical disruption to
airports and airlines by using a software layer to integrate with
existing departure and check-in systems. The total cost of the
scheme is likely to run into tens of millions of pounds.
The project will be financed by European Commission and Sita.
Members of the S-Travel advisory group include airlines Lufthansa
and British Airways and airports in Brussels and Paris.
Benetton takes a lead on radio frequency ID tags >>