Frankfurt Airport turns to biometrics to enhance passenger journeys

Passengers will soon be able to travel through Frankfurt Airport from check-in to boarding simply by scanning their faces at biometric touch-points across the gateway.

This solution will utilise SITA and NEC technology and is available to all interested airlines at the airport.

The implementation will see additional biometric touch-points installed by spring 2023. From enrolment at a kiosk or counter, to pre-security automated gates and self-boarding gates, passengers can use biometric technology to seamlessly pass through each stage of the journey by simply scanning their face.

According to SITA, the project breaks new ground in the development of digital travel by providing a true common-use biometric platform at all Frankfurt Airport’s terminals that is open to all airlines operating at the airport.

It combines day of travel enrolment, Star Alliance Biometrics, and additional biometric hubs under the umbrella of the SITA Smart Path platform.

For Lufthansa passengers specifically, thanks to the integration of SITA Smart Path with Star Alliance Biometrics, the technology makes use of the biometric identities of Lufthansa passengers enrolled on Star Alliance’s platform, enabling seamless identification of passengers without additional process steps across multiple participating airports and airlines.

Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, member of Fraport’s executive board and its executive director of aviation and Infrastructure, said: “Emerging from the pandemic, passengers are embracing technology to boost efficiency and place them in control of their travel.

“We are extremely excited to be able to transform the experience for all our passengers across all terminals and carriers with one simple, intuitive solution.

“We also value that SITA and NEC’s innovative technology allows our infrastructure to be truly future-proof, with the capacity to grow with us as industry demands and travel patterns shift.”

Sergio Colella, SITA’s president for Europe, said: “We are delighted to be working with key industry players to bring the benefits of biometric technology to passengers everywhere. With this implementation, Fraport is leading the industry in responding to shifting passenger demands for greater autonomy and convenience, while helping to maximise operational efficiencies.”

While NEC’s vice president for advanced recognition systems, Jason Van Sice, noted: “We have a wealth of experience combining our technical know-how with SITA’s understanding of the air transport industry.

“We are proud to be upgrading Lufthansa and Fraport customers’ experience with next-generation biometric technology, and we applaud Star Alliance’s initiative to bring these benefits to its broader network.”