YOU could soon be using an app on your phone to slash the time it takes to go through airport security checks.
And even better, it could mean you won’t need to use your passport in the future.
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Spanish airline Iberia said that trials of the facial recognition technology will be conducted at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport’s Terminal 4, the airline’s hub in Spain.
The airline is working with the Spanish airports and air traffic control authority Aena, IECISA, Gunnebo, and Thales companies on the trial, which is expected to last between six and 12 months.
Only Iberia customers flying between Madrid and Asturias or Brussels are included in the trial.
The aim is for customers to use the biometric profile saved on their mobile app to “identify themselves at both general and fast-track security control and at the boarding gates”.
If successful, the technology could eliminate “the need to show travel documents” in the future.
The airline explained: “It is easy to sign up for this capability using the Iberia App and clicking on “Personal Area”.
“The user is asked to take a photograph of his or her photo ID, and then to take a brief “video selfie”, which allows system software to verify there is a good match between them.
“The biometric profile is then transmitted to the Aena database.
“Before the flight, customers will have to associate their boarding pass to Asturias or Brussels with its biometric profile, so that when they check-in online, the system will offer them the possibility of using facial recognition to go through security control and boarding gate.”
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The airline added: “Passengers may also register their biometric profiles via the Aena app or at the kiosks in T4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, where they must scan the QR code of the boarding pass and associate it with their profile.”
To be eligible to be part of the trial, you need to be “of legal age” and also hold the correct document.
If you’re doing it on your phone only, you will need version 3.0 of the Spanish National Identity Document (DNI).
However, if you register at the dedicated kiosks in terminal 4, you can use any valid European passport as well.
Earlier this year, Heathrow said it was trialling facial recognition technology as well.
Gatwick also announced a similar trial.
However, both airports rely on their own technology rather that passengers’ phones.
