Bengaluru airport set to become first in Asia to use face recognition as boarding pass

Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka is set to become first airport in Asia to introduce face recognition based passage system technology from 2019. For this, Bengaluru International Airport Ltd. (BIAL), which operates KIA has signed agreement with Portuguese software firm Vision Box.

Key Facts

The face recognition based passage system will allow passengers to board flights and move across different sections of the airport using automatic biometric boarding procedure instead of manual boarding passes verification. In this case, face will serve as boarding pass. The first implementation milestone of this system at KIA will be completed in the first quarter of 2019, with Jet Airways, Air Asia and SpiceJet passengers as first users.
Benefits: Face recognition based passage system will simplify journey of air passengers by making it paperless from registration to boarding. Biometric technology will identify passengers by their face as they move across airport, avoiding stops and repeated presentation of boarding passes, passports or other physical identity documents. It will enable seamless journey fo  passengers, without obstacles, waiting lines or hassles, from registration to boarding..
Significance: On complete implementation, this will be first end-to-end face recognition-based walk through experience in Asia and largest in the world. It is also one of the most significant steps towards Digital India campaign endorsed by Central Government.
Note: Voice Box had showcased its face recognition-based passage system for first time for Lufthansa passengers at kiosks at Los Angeles airport in US in March 2018. It had allowed Lufthansa passengers to use biometric boarding procedure instead of boarding passes.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2018