In a world where facial recognition already unlocks smartphones, authorises payments, and checks in hotel guests, it’s no surprise that airports might be next in line.
Soon, South African travellers could be breezing through boarding gates without ever reaching for a passport or printed boarding pass.
A proposed global shift led by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) could mean the end of physical travel documents as we know them. Instead, a Digital Travel Credential (DTC) stored on your smartphone may become the new norm.
Using facial recognition, this technology will confirm your identity from check-in to boarding, and even upon arrival, without you needing to flash a single document.
The move towards digitising travel documents is the next logical step in an increasingly tech-driven world. Facial recognition, for example, has already infiltrated many aspects of daily life. We unlock our smartphones, verify payments, and even gain access to secure locations with just a glance.
Beyond that, biometrics and digital ID systems have been slowly taking over in various industries, from banks to health services, where physical cards and IDs are rapidly being replaced by more secure, digital solutions.
Airlines and airports have been testing biometric systems for several years, especially in high-traffic hubs. The first biometric passport was introduced back in 2004, and by 2017, more than 50 countries had incorporated biometric data into passports.
The UK’s Heathrow Airport launched its first fully biometric e-gate in 2015, followed by the implementation of self-boarding gates using facial recognition technology in several international airports, including those in South Africa, like OR Tambo International and Cape Town International.
This shift has only gained momentum, and now, the ICAO’s proposal to go fully digital is the next step in making international travel smoother and more secure. The ICAO believes this shift will speed up processes at airports, reduce queues, and help prevent identity fraud.
SITA, a major tech provider in air transport, is helping to roll out this futuristic solution. Andy Smith, SITA’s director of industry and innovation, recently told local radio station 702 that this digital transformation is well underway.
“It’s a very exciting journey and one we’ve been on for a while,” said Smith. “Where we’re getting to now is the ability for travellers to get a very positive idea that they are going to be able to travel through an airport, across borders, seamlessly and without having to present either their passport or their boarding pass multiple times.”
For international travellers, especially South Africans who often face lengthy document checks, visa controls, and departure requirements, this could change the entire airport experience. The idea is that you’ll be able to complete most of your travel admin from the comfort of home.
“It’s become a very complex environment, and what the industry has been developing over the last number of years is the ability for travellers to simply and easily, where they want to, do a lot of this airport and airline processing away from those environments,” said Smith.
In practice, travellers will be able to create a secure digital copy of their passport on a smartphone using biometric data, all while meeting international standards. Governments will be able to verify that information before a traveller even arrives at the airport.
“Before you set out for the airport, you know that you have completed all the airline processes,” Smith explained.
“You know that you’re going to have a seamless experience through the airport, and more importantly, when you get to your destination, you’re going to have a very simplified arrival experience.”
While the tech is already being piloted in some countries, South Africa is watching closely. Local airports like OR Tambo, Cape Town International and King Shaka are no strangers to innovation, many already use biometric systems at immigration and check-in points.
These initiatives are part of the country’s broader efforts to modernise border control and enhance passenger processing efficiency.
Importantly, the DTC system will be voluntary, and only compatible with smartphones equipped with facial recognition tech. So, if you’re not ready to part with your trusty paper passport just yet, you won’t be forced to.
