SITA and IDEMIA Partner to Enhance Digital Identity Security in Air Travel

SITA and IDEMIA Public Security have announced a partnership to enhance interoperability and security within air travel identity systems. The collaboration aims to establish an open trust network for digital identity verification across the travel sector.

The partnership comes as IDEMIA undergoes strategic changes, including the recent appointment of Vincent Bouatou as Chief Technology Officer. The company has been expanding its digital identity solutions portfolio while maintaining its core focus on biometric technologies.

According to Jeremy Springall, Senior Vice President of Borders at SITA, the partnership addresses growing challenges in maintaining consistency and security as the travel industry adopts various digital identity solutions. “With IDEMIA’s collaboration in the Digital Travel Ecosystem, we’re enhancing stakeholders’ ability to trust travelers’ digital identities throughout their journey,” he said.

Tim Ferris, Senior Vice President of Travel & Transport at IDEMIA Public Security, emphasized the privacy-centric approach. “This interoperable Digital Travel Ecosystem provides a responsible, transparent solution for passenger information sharing,” he said. “By integrating technologies around common standards, we can ensure passengers’ data remains secure while delivering efficient travel processing.”

The initiative builds upon SITA’s existing deployments in Thailand, where the company is implementing face biometric systems across multiple airports as part of the One ID initiative. These installations at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai airports aim to reduce reliance on physical documents.

The partnership aligns with Thailand’s broader digital transformation efforts, as the country advances its digital ID framework into its second phase. This expansion aims to increase the number of e-government services accepting digital identity from approximately 400 to 1,000 by 2027, including enhanced integration with airport processes.

The Digital Travel Ecosystem will operate on a decentralized model developed with Indicio, allowing travelers to maintain control over their personal data. The system enables secure, real-time verification while ensuring data is shared only with explicit consent.

Sources: IATA, Airport Technology

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November 7, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team