Agency sets processes for paperless air travel system in India

India’s digi yatra digital flight boarding system is a step closer to implementation, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) documentation outlining the processes airlines must follow with the paperless boarding system, the Economic Times reports.

Digi yatra will be made available to passengers on domestic flights at booking through any channel, and new digi yatra credentials will be authenticated at the passengers next visit to an airport which supports the process. On verification and validation by an authorized security officer, the digi yatra ID is activated.

Identity documents approved for use with the scheme include the traveller’s passport, voter card, Aadhaar or m-Aadhaar, PAN card, driver’s license, photo identity cards issued by a state or the national government, and more.

The norms also require airlines to issue e-tickets with a 2D/QR code tying the ticket to a specific person, even in a group booking scenario.

“Airlines shall share the passenger data, including digi yatra ID, with biometric boarding system of airport operators at least six hours before the flight on a secure link for the purpose of ticket validation and ID validation, following appropriate agreement for data sharing,” the rules state. In the case of Aadhaar authentication, the Aadhaar or virtual Aadhaar number will not be stored by the system.

The Airports Authority of India is planning to deploy kiosks in busy public spaces for travelers to enroll their facial biometrics for digi yatra, and the system is expected to be launched in April 2019.

Article Topics

airport biometrics  |  biometrics  |  Digi Yatra  |  identity verification  |  India  |  passenger processing