Frankfurt Airport hopes to reduce waiting times by becoming the first in Europe to open biometric check-in for all passengers.
Queuing to check in and board a flight is a notoriously boring experience. But an airport in Germany wants to significantly speed up the process for passengers.
Frankfurt Airport says it will begin offering biometric check-in services for all travelers in the coming months
It already offers facial recognition for flyers on Lufthansa and Star Alliance-affiliated routes (including United, Air China and Air India).
Here’s how the system works and how it could change your airport experience.
Frankfurt Airport offers facial recognition check-in to all passengers
Frankfurt Airport hopes to reduce waiting times by becoming the first in Europe to open biometric check-in for all passengers.
Airport operator Fraport said the time-saving technology will be available to travelers on all airlines who register in advance.
How does biometric check-in work?
Instead of queuing at the desk to check your ID and documents, your face becomes your boarding pass.
Passengers they can register in advance securely on their mobile device via the Star Alliance biometric app or directly at the check-in kiosk with their biometrics-enabled passports. The entire registration process takes just a few seconds.
Then their faces will be scanned as they pass through checkpoints instead of having to present their documents.
The system, nicknamed “Smart Path”, is already used by over 12,000 travelers per year airportthe check-in and departure gates.
“Our goal is to equip at least 50 percent of all ATMs, as well as boarding pass controls and departure gates with this innovative technology in the coming months,” said Pierre Dominique Prümm, member of the Fraport executive board responsible of infrastructure.
Stellar Alliance passengers Miles & More card holders will be able to permanently save their biometric data while other passengers will register using their identity documents only for booked flights.
All personal information will be deleted three hours after the flight departure time, said Sita, the company providing the technology.
“We know from our research that where biometric systems are introduced, more than 75% of passengers will willingly use them,” said David Lavorel, CEO of Sita.
Conventional check-in methods will also remain available, the airport confirmed.
Biometric technology is also used at some other major German airports, including Hamburg and Munich, but only for Lufthansa and Star Alliance passengers.
Image:Getty Images
