News

Iberia trials facial recognition app

25 Nov 2019 by Mark Caswell
Iberia facial recognition app

Iberia is piloting a new facial recognition app, which it describes as the “world’s first biometric project to enable passengers to identify themselves via a mobile device app instead of appearing at a physical location”.

Customers are asked to upload a photo of their photo ID within the Iberia app, and then subsequently to take a “brief video selfie”, allowing the software to verify a match between the photo and video. The biometric profile is then submitted to the airport operator’s database.

Passengers then also need to “associate their boarding pass to Asturias or Brussels with their biometric profile” before checking in online, enabling the system to offer them the option of using facial recognition to pass through security control and the boarding gates J40 and J58 at T4.

Iberia facial recognition app

The trial is running for a six to 12 month period for customers flying to Asturias or Brussels from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport Terminal 4.

To use the app functionality passengers must hold a version 3.0 Spanish National Identity Document – there is also the option for European passport holders to register for facial recognition at self-service kiosks within in front of check-in counter 848 at the Madrid airport’s T4, where they will also be asked to scan the QR code on their boarding pass and to associate it with their profile.

Currently the mobile facial recognition software is only available to customers with Android phones, although it is set to be extended to Apple devices.

Commenting on the news Gabriel Perdiguero, Iberia’s chief transformation officer, said:

“Facial recognition and the recording of biometric profiles via our application are a part of our project of connected operations and will enable our customers to have a better experience in T4, which is the main reason behind Iberia’s commitment to innovation.”

Subscriber to Business Traveller can read Face of the future, which looks at the growth of biometric technology at airports.

Airport biometrics: Face of the future

iberia.com

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