Air New Zealand is ready to progress to contactless and biometrics travel options ahead of another busy summer.
After a successful trial at LAX, the airline plans to use biometric verification at its other US ports to brace for what they predict will be another busy summer season. Between December 15th and January 31st, the Auckland-based company predicts to accommodate 2.8 million passengers compared to 1.1 million in the same period last year.
The airline successfully tested its boarding using biometric verification at Los Angeles International airport last week. The airline intends to alleviate the strain on passengers and airline employees by getting rid of passport sighting and boarding pass scanning. ANZ chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar said the technology would make the boarding process faster and make it a seamless experience for all involved, Simple Flying reported.
Passengers flying into the United States can register their biometric information with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The data will be stored by the agency, not shared with the airline, and will be used at automated airport kiosks to verify the passenger’s identity before boarding.
International Air Transport Association conducted a 2022 Global Passenger Survey that found 75% of passengers would prefer to use their biometric information than passports or boarding passes. The airline has a bigger goal on the horizon, saying that the use of biometrics at boarding is only the beginning. The company is currently working on using identification technology throughout the whole airport process.
Airlines are working hard to properly accommodate passengers ahead of the holiday season. It’s evident that airports will be chaotic but knowing that new features are being tested helps bring peace of mind.
