Lufthansa and Amadeus have successfully piloted the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) in air travel, marking an early step toward a more seamless passenger journey within Europe. The summer 2025 trials tested both online and in-person airport check-in processes, as the European Union works toward making digital identity wallets available to all member states by 2026.
Piloting Wallet-Based Travel
The EUDI Wallet is being developed under the European Digital Identity Framework to give citizens a secure, standardized way to store and share credentials. It is designed to hold identity documents, biometric profiles, and payment cards, with travelers able to consent to share specific information via their smartphones. By keeping data on the user’s device, the system aims to give individuals stronger control over personal information.
During the Lufthansa and Amadeus pilot, passengers used the wallet in both remote and in-airport settings. For remote check-in, digital credentials could be shared directly, reducing the need for separate selfies or document scans. At the airport, the wallet was tested at check-in desks, self-service kiosks, automated bag-drop machines, and boarding gates. Security and border control checks were not included in this phase, but future pilots are expected to expand to those areas later in 2025.
The pilots build on Amadeus’s “Travel Ready” platform, which provides the infrastructure for verifying documents and integrating with airline and airport systems. Thousands of passengers participated in remote check-in testing, while smaller groups trialed the in-airport process at Amadeus facilities in France. Early results suggest that wallet-based credentials can reduce waiting times and simplify airline operations.
Next Steps and Wider Context
Future tests scheduled for late 2025 will examine how the wallet can be used at airport security and border control, including immigration e-gates. The aim is to reduce reliance on physical documents across the entire passenger journey, though traditional checks are still expected to remain in place during the rollout phase.
This initiative is part of broader developments in digital travel credentials. International aviation bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are advancing Digital Travel Credential frameworks that could eventually replace physical boarding passes and modernize identity verification worldwide. The EUDI Wallet is positioned as the EU’s contribution to this global shift, ensuring that European citizens can use a trusted and interoperable digital identity in both public and private services.
Privacy and security remain central to the program. The wallet framework specifies that credentials are only shared with user consent and that verification occurs through standardized protocols. While the pilots highlight potential efficiency gains, questions remain about how border agencies, airlines, and airports will coordinate once the system scales across multiple jurisdictions.
The results of the Lufthansa and Amadeus tests will feed into the EU’s timeline for full deployment in 2026. If successful, the EUDI Wallet could significantly streamline air travel, reduce paperwork, and strengthen trust in digital identity for millions of European travelers.
Sources: Computer Weekly, Passenger Terminal Today, The Paypers
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By Ali Nassar-Smith
