Emirates airline announces biometric path for travelers departing Dubai International Airport

Emirates airline has announced that it will soon begin using a “biometrics path” with facial and iris recognition to verify the identity of travelers for flights from Dubai International Airport.

The system will reportedly enable travelers to check in, enter the airline’s lounge, and board the plane without queuing or document checks. Emirates has already acquired the necessary biometric equipment and installed it at Emirates Terminal 3 in the airport.

The “biometrics path” will complement and eventually be linked with the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners in Dubai’s (GDRFA’s) Smart Tunnel project. Customer trials of the Smart Tunnel, which also performs biometric face and iris scans, began earlier this month.

“Once its internal tests are completed, Emirates will shortly launch trials for biometric processing at the other key customer points at the airport – check-in, lounge, and boarding gate – and subsequently at transit counters/gates, and for its chauffeur drive services,” the airline said in a statement. “All biometric data will be stored with GDRFA, and customers invited to participate in the trials will be asked for their consent.”

Customer trials are expected to be announced soon.

A recent report from Acuity Market Research forecasts that curb to gate airport biometrics will generate $1.3 billion in revenue from eGates and kiosks in the next five years.

Article Topics

airports  |  biometrics  |  facial recognition  |  identity verification  |  iris recognition  |  passenger processing