Biometrics top technologies travelers want to improve experience

Mar 23, 2018 | Chris Burt

Categories Biometrics News | Border and Port Security

More than six out of ten travelers are hoping for wider and faster deployment of biometric technologies to speed up check-in, boarding, and security procedures, according to survey results published by flight information provider OAG.

The “Travel Tech Innovation: Market Report – Evaluating Travellers’ Appetite for Adoption” survey also shows that three-quarters of travelers would be willing to use biometrics for boarding, 79 percent would use them to access an itinerary, 84 percent would do so to get through security without other identification or to check in for a flight, and 85 percent would use them to streamline customs and immigration processes.

“Now, maybe even more than ever, the travel industry is closely examining the intersection of travel and technology, with a focus on making the travel experience faster, easier and more enjoyable,” said Mike Benjamin, CTO, OAG. “While new innovations and possibilities are being introduced regularly, everything always comes back to the traveler experience.”

The report also shows significant traveler interest in using AI to predict flight prices, cancellations, and delays, and that most travelers would be willing to pay more for a supersonic flight. Biometrics were ranked ahead of these innovations, however, by travelers asked what technologies would most improve the travel experience.

A recent report from SITA shows more than half of airports and just under half of airlines will invest in biometrics over the next three years to ease congestion.

Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, the implementation of biometrics technology to facilitate secure borders is the single biggest opportunity for the travel and tourism sector in 2018.