SITA Partners with Airports Authority of India to Deploy Biometric Solutions Across Airports

SITA has announced a partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to deploy its Smart Path biometric technology across nine Indian airports as part of the DigiYatra initiative. The collaboration aims to enhance passenger experience by introducing contactless boarding and reducing wait times, thereby improving overall airport efficiency.

The AAI will use SITA’s Smart Path, Passenger Flow Management (PFM) solutions, and Face Pods to offer biometric authentication at various touchpoints within the airports. The technology is designed to let passengers navigate through an airport with ease thanks to automated facial recognition, enabling a paperless and contact-free journey.

DigiYatra, an initiative by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeks to revolutionize air travel in India by providing a seamless and paperless airport experience through facial recognition technology. The partnership with SITA is a key element of AAI’s strategy to digitally transform Indian airports and align with the government’s vision for modernizing infrastructure.

“With a focus on delivering digital travel, improving airport efficiency, and future-proofing operations with smart, agile solutions, India has a unique opportunity to revolutionise its airports with truly world-class infrastructure,” said Sumesh Patel, President of Asia Pacific at SITA. “It is vital in this connected era that travel across the globe is as seamless as possible, and we are ready to help India continue to innovate in its digitalisation efforts with SITA technology as the DigiYatra initiative spreads across India.”

Previously, in July 2023, SITA secured a significant deal with AAI to provide technology solutions to 43 of India’s major airports, improving over 2,700 passenger touchpoints. This marks one of the largest deployments for passenger processing, demonstrating SITA’s long-standing commitment to supporting India’s aviation sector since 1952. The company also supports the “Make In India” initiative, enhancing its India-based support in line with government aspirations.

SITA recently published its”2024 Passenger IT Insights” report highlighting an increasing preference for digital travel credentials (DTCs) and mobile technology among travelers, with 75 percent comfortable storing their passports on phones. The report highlighted that, while biometrics are seen as a solution to reduce airport delays, privacy and security concerns have caused a dip in traveler comfort, with scores dropping from 7.4 to 6.7. Younger travelers, particularly those aged 18-44, show strong interest in DTCs, with 62 percent willing to pay for such services.

Source: Airports International

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September 25, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis