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Digital Identity in Aviation: The Future of Safe and Efficient Air Transportation

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Digital identity in aviation is a key element for the future of the industry. Therefore, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reinforced its call for the rapid adoption of these technological tools, promising to revolutionize security, efficiency, and the passenger experience at airports worldwide.

What is digital identity in aviation?

Digital identity allows passengers to authenticate their data using verifiable credentials, facial biometrics, and decentralized systems, eliminating the need for physical documents. This digital authentication is secure, globally interoperable, and significantly reduces waiting times.

Benefits of digital identity in airports:

  • Enhanced Security: Protects against fraud and unauthorized access.
  • Operational Efficiency: Speeds up processes like check-in, security checks, and boarding.
  • Contactless Experience: Reduces the use of physical documents and friction points.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Adheres to international data protection and security standards.

The One ID program push

International Standards for an Interoperable Future

IATA promotes the adoption of technologies like Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), which are crucial for creating a secure, scalable, and interoperable digital ecosystem. These technologies are part of the One ID program, which aims for passengers to authenticate their identity before travel and use their face as the sole credential at airports.

IATA’s One ID program promotes universal digital identity standards. With this technology, travelers can register before arriving at the airport, validate their documents online, and use their face as a key throughout the travel process, from check-in to boarding.

Technology Ready for Deployment

Nick Careen, Senior Vice President of Operations, Security, and Safety at IATA, highlighted that the technology has already been successfully tested and is ready for large-scale implementation. The only thing left is political will and coordination among governments, airlines, and airport operators.

GP Nauticals: Empowering Digital Identity with Biometric Technology

At GP Nauticals, we actively contribute to this new paradigm through the development of our own intelligent facial recognition solution, AI REKOG. Our technology allows airport security to quickly identify passengers or personnel through biometric data.

Thanks to our platform, authorities can validate a traveler’s identity in seconds, with total precision. Additionally, integrating these technologies with existing airport systems improves traceability, streamlines flows, and reduces operational costs.

Digital identity is not just a trend but a necessity in the new era of air transportation. At GP Nauticals, we are committed to driving this technological transformation to create smarter, safer, and more user-centered airports and ports.

Visit our website to learn more.

Hong Kong International Airport: Expansion and Technological Innovations

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Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is entering a new era of innovation and efficiency with the introduction of its third runway, autonomous technologies, and smart security systems. These advancements position HKIA as a global leader in aviation technology, setting new standards for operational excellence and passenger experience.

The Third Runway: Expanding Capacity and Efficiency at the Hong Kong International Airport

The launch of Hong Kong International Airport’s third runway is a significant milestone that will increase passenger and cargo capacity, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a major international aviation hub.

It can also enhance air traffic efficiency, reducing congestion and improving on-time performance. This also benefits global trade and logistics, strengthening supply chains and connectivity.

As international air traffic continues to recover, this expansion ensures that HKIA remains competitive in the rapidly evolving aviation industry.

Hong Kong International Airport and Autonomous Technology

The integration of autonomous technology is revolutionizing airport operations. HKIA is implementing self-driving baggage carts, automated aircraft towing systems, and AI-powered logistics solutions to:

  • Boost efficiency by reducing turnaround times for flights.
  • Enhance safety with precise, AI-driven movement of aircraft and cargo.
  • Lower operational costs by minimizing human error and improving workflow automation.

Autonomous technology is not just the future—it is reshaping the present, creating a smarter, more efficient airport ecosystem.

Smart Security: Enhancing Passenger Experience

Security remains a top priority for modern airports, and HKIA is adopting next-generation screening technologies to streamline the passenger journey. Innovations include:

  • AI-powered facial recognition for seamless check-in and boarding.
  • Advanced baggage screening for faster and more accurate threat detection.
  • Real-time security monitoring, improving response times and overall safety.

These smart security solutions not only enhance safety but also reduce wait times, improving the overall airport experience.

The Future of Global Aviation

As technology transforms these industries, GP Nauticals focuses on integrating cutting-edge solutions for seamless global trade, enhanced security, and sustainable operations.

From smart airports to automated seaports, the future of transportation is interconnected, efficient, and driven by technology. With these innovations shaping the next era of aviation and maritime logistics, GP Nauticals is committed to providing state-of-the-art solutions for the evolving industry.

The future of aviation is here, and GP Nauticals is ready to navigate it. Visit our website to learn more.

Resilient ports

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Nowadays, airport planning must be viewed as an ecosystem in permanent transformation, which does not work in isolation but is an integral part of its immediate environment. As well as other sectors that directly influence its daily development such as tourism, foreign trade, defense, territorial integration, and social connectivity, but above all, its planning must be aligned with the objectives and policies of the State.

 

Evaluating the above, the planning of the air system should be focused not only on aircraft, infrastructure, and services but also on sustainability (social, environmental, and economic) and should not lose its articulation with the urban planning where they are located.

 

The current situation must be taken into account in airport planning, while analyzing the past and how things were done to foresee the future and improve processes, building different scenarios, considering all possible variables, and dimensioning their influence.

 

The truth is that we are in constant evolution, and situations change overnight, but today, keeping airport development at the forefront of technology is vital to lay the foundations. This allows a sector in constant development to grow and meet the demand of travelers for more efficient services and transform their travel experience.

 

Airport development management has a responsibility to take advantage of the buildings, facilities, and infrastructure available to them and evaluate their full capacity to adapt and create resilient infrastructures that promote the sustainability of the industry, but above all foster innovation.

 

Using technological platforms makes it possible to optimize resources without the need for large investments in infrastructure. Additionally, they facilitate the daily work of airport employees, while benefiting travelers who obtain high-quality services with state-of-the-art technology that offers them: greater data security, more efficient waiting times, and, obviously, greater convenience when using systems such as self-check-in. Also, biometric systems for passenger control or zero-contact technologies have become so popular in recent times.

 

Undoubtedly, the airport sector has had a rapid capacity to adapt and has weathered one of the worst crises in history, but if anything is clear, it is that airport planning must be very resilient and mutate step by step, to adapt to the needs.  Above all, they must be open to learning, take advantage of every innovative technology that facilitates data collection and analysis, and be very dynamic in decision-making, which will allow them to cushion the impact of any situation that may arise.

 

The use of biometrics in the aeronautical sector

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The future is already here and thanks to the technological advances we are living today, we can use biometrics as a control and access system. Analyzing our facial features or body measurements that make each person a unique human being with specific characteristics.

But what does this process consist of? 

To identify a subject, all that is needed is to compare an incoming image with an image in the database. However, in the aeronautical field, this is a process that must be carried out in real-time and supported by software and a database that provides sufficient security to airport facilities.

 

For this reason, airports that have already implemented technologies like this support it with government databases that support their security personnel while streamlining their passenger check-in processes.

 

Using a passenger access control system with biometrics brings many advantages to the aviation industry, such as speeding up the entry process, making it faster and more efficient, and reducing the probability of identity fraud, since the system will identify the passenger’s features by comparing them with certified databases. 

 

Software without human manipulation, this type of technology and devices used to provide access cannot be manipulated, so the information handled here is secure and reliable. And last but not least hygiene, as the type of devices used for biometric identification or facial recognition, does not require any kind of contact, so it is ideal in these times of pandemic.

 

According to Annet Steenbergen, chair of the passenger facilitation working group at IATA, “The use of the human body as an authentication system will be the salvation to speed up the movement of people in air terminals”. Especially when it is expected that by 2037, more than 8 million passengers will be using airplanes for their transfers, more than twice as many as today.

 

Identification solutions using biometrics or facial recognition not only eliminate manual processes, offer a more satisfactory service for passengers, and reduce their waiting times at the airport but also help airlines and air terminals to comply with government and border agency regulations.

 

So far, the main use of facial recognition technology has been in the check-in areas of airports. However, within the same air terminals, it can also be used to provide privileged access to VIP lounges for frequent travelers, access to restricted areas for airport workers, or to offer specific premium services for those passengers who wish to pay for a more pleasant trip. 

 

At the moment, the implementation of facial recognition in the aviation industry is in its early stages, but we are sure that it will revolutionize the sector and replace many processes that are not so friendly so far.

 

High-tech airport checkpoints

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The Transportation Security Administration, better known as TSA, has focused its efforts in recent decades on the implementation of new technological tools.

That allows airports to have safer and more efficient passenger checkpoints, incorporating innovations such as: digital identification, facial recognition, and even computerized tomography.

For this reason, in today’s article, we will inform you about the latest innovations in airport checkpoint systems that have been introduced in the sector.

Computerized tomography for baggage scanning

These machines were created for medical purposes. They are now being used in the airport industry as a security device.

Providing rotating, color-coded, and three-dimensional images of all baggage entering the facilities.

All are supported by new computer programs with automatic learning that allow checkpoints to study the contents of a suitcase more quickly and accurately.

High Definition Body Scanning

High-definition imaging technology (HD-AIT) systems are currently under development to enhance existing body scanning devices.

Which would allow for a detailed view of each passenger without them having to hold their arms above their head, remove their shoes or coats.

These devices are designed to detect a greater number of prohibited items, thus reducing inspections and making passenger scanning more efficient.

Facial recognition technology

Facial recognition technology is currently tested at several international airports, to verify the identity of passengers passing through their facilities.

New stations known as “Innovation Checkpoint” will be installed at airports for the use of this type of technology. Where identification software compares a photo taken at the checkpoint with the identification presented by the passenger.

Checkpoints

Manual passenger verification is a thing of the past. Passenger check-in and boarding list audits are being handled by software. That allows real-time measurement of passenger traffic, whether in the immigration area or for control in the boarding area.

This type of technology allows for the early completion of passenger lists, verification of flight occupancy, and even calculation and verification of airport taxes.

They don’t require major investment by airports since they can be integrated with the systems currently used, such as the software known as PAX AIMS, developed by the company GP Nauticals.