In a recent collaboration with industry partners, the International Air Transport Association IATA tested the first fully integrated digital identity travel experience on a journey from London Heathrow to Rome Fiumicino via British Airways.
Through a statement, IATA announced that this ground-breaking trial highlighted the potential for a future in which every stage of the travel process is seamlessly interconnected through biometric identification, from shopping for flights to arrival, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The journey brought several key points of a future fully integrated digital travel adventure to the forefront. Among these, one of the primary advantages is the personalised offers.
By storing loyalty card information as a verifiable credential in a smartphone’s digital wallet, travellers can enjoy tailored offers across all shopping channels, enhancing the ticket shopping experience and convenience for passengers.
According to IATA, the second aspect involves the streamlining of bookings. Rather than depending on many documents, such as passenger name records and e-tickets, a verifiable credential stored in a digital wallet can function as an all-encompassing source of travel information. This eliminates the necessity for unwieldy paperwork, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the travel process.
Another notable advancement is the effortless travel requirements check. Passengers can swiftly ascertain their travel document necessities by sharing nationality data from a digital passport stored in the traveller’s digital wallet. As a result, it prevents the need for time-consuming manual checks at the airport, guaranteeing a more seamless journey for passengers.
The test conducted by IATA also introduced the concept of “Ready to Fly,” enabling passengers to share their digital passport and booking details with the airline, receiving confirmation of their readiness and seat assignment via text message. The same process reduces the need for manual data input, further streamlining the check-in procedure.
As an airline, we are constantly innovating and looking at ways to make the customer journey seamless. We introduced biometric boarding on selected flights earlier this year, and it has been a huge success with positive customer feedback.
Moreover, for those travellers willing to share their biometric data, a contactless airport experience becomes a reality. Biometric gates facilitate the traveller’s passage through security, lounges, and onto the aircraft, ensuring a smoother and touchless journey.
As the authority explains, this successful test signifies a global transformation in the air travel industry, emphasising the significance of modern airline retailing. The goal is to provide a personalised and transparent shopping experience for travellers.