The use of passenger biometrics is seen to speed up airport processing and ensure efficient movement of passengers, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Sector Roberto Lim said biometrics processing will be from the airport’s entry up to boarding.
“The future is now… biometrics passenger processing will significantly make the Philippine airport experience more pleasant, more efficient,” Usec. Lim said during the recent Biometric Airport Passenger Processing Forum held in Davao City last week.
A single token created from the passenger’s biometric facial scan, the boarding pass and a biometric data embedded ID such as passport will allow a passenger to breeze through airport entrance, check in, final boarding pass check to airside, and boarding.
With resource persons from among the world leaders in biometrics airport processing technology, participants from the country’s airport operators were provided with a full view of the benefits of putting the process and technologies in place in airports as gleaned from the many international reference sites.
Participants from the government include the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) with GMT-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) and Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD) representing the private sector.
Airport operators such as CAAP and DIAA are looking into a pilot operation as local stakeholders await the implementation of the process and technology in action, while preparing to further improve passenger comfort, accessibility and security through departure process.
Also present during the forum were representatives from major airlines Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific Air (CEB), Philippine Air Asia, Bureau of Immigration (BI), and other ground handling companies.
Meanwhile, Amadeus, Collins Aerospace, Idemia, SITA and VisionBox tackled topics of data privacy, biometric sources and interoperability.
