Digital Travel Credential | A dramatic transformation is on the horizon for global air travel, as authorities and technology firms prepare to phase out one of the most fundamental elements of flying: the boarding pass.
Backed by a major policy shift from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the coming years could end traditional check-ins and physical travel documents as the industry embraces a future powered by biometric identity and digital credentials.
A “digital travel credential” is a secure form of identification that enables travellers to store verified passport data on their smartphones. This digital credential will allow airports and airlines to verify a passenger’s identity using facial recognition systems rather than traditional documents. It represents one of the most sweeping overhauls in decades to how travellers interact with airlines and airport infrastructure. This change is a part of the proposed rollout by ICAO.
The ICAO, United Nations' specialised agency that sets international standards for civil aviation, is spearheading a move to eliminate long-standing processes such as check-in procedures and boarding pass issuance. According to a news source, the organisation plans to implement new digital protocols that could be adopted worldwide within two to three years, such as the digital travel credential.
Currently, those flying must check-in, which can be done online or at the airport upon arrival. They are then issued a boarding pass with a barcode. This is scanned by a passenger at various points throughout the airport, including at the gate before boarding. The changes proposed by the ICAO would make boarding passes and the need to check in for flights obsolete.
Instead, flyers will download a “journey pass” to their phone when they book a flight. The pass will be automatically updated if any changes are made to the booking and contain all essential travel details. This eliminates the need for passengers to check in online or at the airport.
Airlines will no longer depend on a check-in process to confirm who is boarding their flights. Instead, when travellers arrive at the airport, their presence will be recognised when their face is scanned at entry points, automatically notifying the airline systems that they are ready to travel.
In the event of delays or missed connections—especially those beyond the passenger’s control—the system could immediately alert affected travellers via mobile notifications, provide new boarding information and automatically update the digital pass with the latest flight details.
This streamlined process aims to minimise stress and uncertainty during travel disruptions and eliminate the need for passengers to queue at help desks or navigate customer service portals for assistance.
For this new model to function effectively, airports across the globe will require a significant infrastructure revamp.
Key to the system’s success is the installation of facial recognition technology at major touchpoints—entry gates, bag drops, security checkpoints and boarding gates—where passengers can be identified simply by scanning their faces.
In addition, airport systems will need to be equipped to read passport data directly from mobile devices and ensure secure and instant data transfers to maintain real-time updates across various travel systems.
These upgrades will have to be consistent and interoperable across the global airline industry—a major logistical challenge. The shift to a unified, digitised approach will require collaboration across governments, technology providers, airlines and airport operators to standardise procedures and systems.
Since the new system involves scanning and storing sensitive biometric and travel data, privacy advocates and passengers alike have raised questions about how securely this information will be handled.
Amadeus, one of the companies involved in developing the new framework, says that privacy and data protection are built into the system's core. According to the firm, passenger data will be deleted within 15 seconds after each interaction with a “touchpoint” such as a pre-security gate or a boarding kiosk.
This brief data retention window would be designed to ensure identity verification without retaining or mishandling personal information.
(With inputs from multiple reports)