The UN body, ICAO, has proposed introducing a new “Digital Travel Credential” that would shake-up the travel rulebook going back 50 years. The travel sector could be nearing the end of its co-dependency on passports for security in 3 years, reports state.
They envision a totally simplified travel procedure mobilised through the DTC, which becomes a digital version of the travel document, allowing passengers to upload and verify their passport information on their mobile phones.
Currently, the presence of facial recognition systems at security lanes can match the traveller to their passport and digital record. The technology will need to be upgraded to scan a passenger’s data stored in a mobile device against their face.
The key feature of the ICAO DTC is that “authorities can verify a digital representation of the passport data before the traveller’s arrival and confirm the data’s integrity and authenticity”, stated in the ‘High Level Guidance: Explaining The ICAO Digital Travel Credentials’ paper, in June 2024.
The ICAO initiative will upend some routine procedures like checking-in to get your boarding pass. Passengers will download a “journey pass” instead when booking their flights, which will automatically update their information. Facial scans will be conducted at bag drop-off points for passengers with hold luggage or at pre-boarding gates for those with hand luggage, and airlines will only be alerted that passengers can fly once these procedures are followed at the airport.
Several digital travel credential projects are ongoing carrying out testing for distinct scenarios via Type 1, 2 or 3 of the Travel Credential. Although the DTC-1 pilot is going smoothly and is viable, DTC Types 2 and 3 – which will not require a physical book – may not be ready for some time.
Becoming available as of 2030, the European Commission will also deliver an application based around their proposed framework for Digital Travel Credentials and the pilot programme conducted by KLM Airlines at the Commission’s request. The pilot of DTC-1 in the Netherlands streamlined faster boarding and border crossing at Schiphol Airport.
Additionally, Thales has been piloting the first Digital Travel Credential Type 2 with the ODYSSEUS project.
There are criteria for a Digital Travel Credential needed across different scenarios to create the efficiencies for the aviation industry and border management, which will likely delay ICAO’s DTC. Finland’s initial ICAO pilot expedited border processing times in less than 8 seconds in comparison with the 25 second processing time of automated border kiosks.
Many travel procedures and systems installed have not changed in 50 years, according to an Executive at Amadeus.
