Daon partners with Denver airport as contactless biometrics proposed to restore air travel confidence

Daon and Denver International Airport (DEN) have formed a strategic partnership to develop contactless biometric solutions for deployment throughout the airport environment.

DEN plans to stand up a multi-faceted pilot program to test technologies based on Daon’s IdentityX digital onboarding and authentication platform for travelers and employees in its live environment. The motivation is to explore how identity-based technologies can support touchless experiences, maximize physical distancing, and assist in the mitigation of health risks.

“The airport experience is going to have to change in fundamental ways to give people confidence that their journey will be safe and efficient,” says DEN CEO Kim Day. “Our goal of the partnership with Daon is to develop solutions and options for travelers that will shape the future of travel and give passengers and employees the tools they need to move through the airport environment with assurance.”

Solutions considered could include Glide, a biometric solution for managing enrolled identities within the airport ecosystem of kiosks, eGates, and other touchpoints, possible as a self-service registration system. Risk-based health mitigation and touchless retail solutions could also be piloted. The first pilot is expected to launch this summer.

“At this critical time, forward-thinking airports are innovating their way to smarter, safer travel experiences in a post-pandemic world,” states Tom Grissen, Daon’s CEO. “We are tremendously proud to partner with Denver International Airport in this mission, working closely to build greater trust and health resilience into the travel process, and thus delivering safer and more seamless traveler experiences.”

IdentityX enables travelers to use a smartphone as a trusted identity credential, which is a comfortable system for travelers, providing efficiency for airports, and enhancing personal data privacy and security, according to the announcement.

Collins sees facial recognition as means of restoring consumer confidence

Contactless biometrics and other technologies are about to be in demand from the air transport industry as it seeks to resume operation following COVID-19 lockdowns, Collins Aerospace Vice President LeAnn Ridgeway tells Flight Global.

Ridgeway says that in conversations with airliners, restoring passenger confidence is the top priority for reopening the industry.

While fingerprint biometric systems have been launched to many airports over the past decade, Ridgeway sees facial recognition as the main modality that will be relied on, as trials for boarding have shown the technology not only eliminates a contact point, but also speeds up the process. Future developments are also likely to include smartphones as a mechanism for interacting with airport systems such as kiosks.

Collins is also exploring a range of technologies, such as light-based interior sterilization, to support the return of commercial air travel.

Indian students develop airport app

A mobile application that will eventually integrate facial biometrics has been developed by a group of students from IIT-Guwahati to enable seamless and contactless air travel, Outlook India reports.

The app, dubbed Flyzy, is reportedly developed in accord with IATA guidelines, and is intended to address baggage drop, parking, shopping, and information processes throughout the journey. It provides real-time notifications, online check-ins, baggage status and a map of the airport, and even includes a smart user interface assistant to help elderly people use it. The app also provides dynamic suggestions for airport dining, based on the time until the user’s flight departs, and is expected to support payments.

The startup team is reported to have spoken to authorities at some airports about implementation.

Industry expert explains U.S. contactless push

Biometrics expert Janice Kephart, managing director and founder of Identity Strategy Partners, recently explained some of the issues around the use of advanced technologies in airports in a series of interviews with The Small Business Advocate Show.

The use of thermal imaging on crowds is panned as a false promise by Kephart, who says “you have to get the one that makes you stand and pause” to get the desired degree of accuracy. The distinction between identity data and personal health data, which is protected by HIPAA, is also made in a discussion about at what point the use of biometric and temperature screening technology crosses the line and becomes creepy. Regulations are already in place that govern these systems, Kephart points out, though questions about implementation details remain.

The definition of airport security, mostly static since 9/11, is being revisited, Kephart explains.

Ultimately, facial recognition is going to provide the contactless identity verification people are looking for in airports, Kephart tells host Jim Blasingame.

Article Topics

airports  |  authentication  |  biometrics  |  contactless biometrics  |  credentials  |  Daon  |  digital identity  |  facial recognition  |  fever detection  |  identity management  |  mobile app  |  thermal  |  travel and tourism