India’s facial recognition-based air travel system Digi Yatra has expanded to two more airports, with Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru International Airports becoming the latest facilities to implement the contactless passenger processing technology. The addition brings all seven operational airports under Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL) into the Digi Yatra network.
The expansion marks a significant milestone for the biometric travel platform, which has already surpassed 9 million users since its initial launch in December 2022. The system allows passengers to move through airport checkpoints using facial recognition technology instead of physical documents.
“Since its launch on August 15, 2023, DigiYatra took flight at five of our airports: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Guwahati,” said Jeet Adani, Director of AAHL. “Offering the DigiYatra experience to our passengers in Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram Airports underscores our dedication to innovative technologies that enhance passenger convenience and security.”
The system has shown promising adoption rates across AAHL facilities, with average utilization ranging between 25 percent to 30 percent of passengers. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport recorded the highest single-day usage on January 20, 2025, with 37.1 percent of passengers using the system.
To use Digi Yatra, passengers download the mobile app and register by uploading government-issued identification and a selfie. At the airport, they can then pass through e-gates that use facial recognition to verify their identity and travel documents. The system employs advanced security measures including Self-Sovereign Identity and Distributed Ledger Technology, with all personal data automatically deleted after flight departure.
The implementation comes as airports worldwide increasingly adopt biometric solutions for passenger processing. Similar systems have been deployed at international hubs like Narita Airport in Japan, indicating a global shift toward contactless travel technology.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to further expand Digi Yatra’s presence, with rollouts scheduled for Hyderabad, Pune, Vijayawada, and Kolkata airports by March of next year. However, the system has faced some scrutiny over data usage, with recent disputes arising over proposals to use the platform’s data for tax compliance monitoring.
Sources: Travel And Tour World, Delhi International Airport Limited, Apple App Store
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March 17, 2025 – by Ali Nassar-Smith
