In a test of facial recognition technology, passengers, identified by their face alone, can board flights with speed and ease via a separate gate. In a trial expected to last at least three months, Schiphol and KLM are evaluating the speed, reliability and user-friendliness of the system, as well as the passenger experience of the new boarding process.
Passengers who wish to use the facial recognition system for boarding must first register via a special registration kiosk in the waiting area at the gate. With the help of KLM staff, passengers must scan their passports and boarding passes, as well as their faces, in order to register. After boarding, this personal data, used only for the trial, will automatically be deleted in an effort to ensure privacy is protected.
This trial comes as part of the airport’s ambition of becoming ‘Leading Digital Airport’ in 2018, by continually implementing innovations and making the travel experience more efficient and convenient for passengers. To the same end, a separate trial involving a hand baggage scanner that allows passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their bags is also currently underway. The airport has said that innovative technologies will be tested frequently in the coming months and subsequently implemented if trials prove successful.
