Arriving at the 'Ready to Fly' airport is getting closer

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has developed industry standards that will bring the goal of travelers arriving at airports ready to fly one step closer to reality. The recently published digitization of eligibility recommended practice will allow travelers to digitally prove eligibility to an international destination, avoiding a stop at the check-in counter or gate for document verification.  

Under the One ID initiative, airlines are working with IATA to digitize the passenger experience at airports with contactless biometric processes.  

Programs are already in use at several airports that allow travelers to go through airport processes such as boarding without presenting paper documentation because their boarding pass is linked to a biometric identifier. But in many cases, travelers would still have to prove their admissibility at a check-in counter or gate with physical checks of paper documentation (passports, visas, and health credentials, for example). 

The Digitization of Admissibility standard will advance the realization of One ID with a mechanism for passengers to digitally obtain all necessary pre-travel authorizations directly from governments prior to their travel. By sharing the "OK to Fly" status with their airline, travelers can bypass all document checks at the airport. 

“Passengers want technology to simplify travel. By allowing passengers to prove their eligibility to their airline before arriving at the airport, we are taking a big step forward. The recent IATA Global Passengers survey found that 83% of travelers are willing to share immigration information for expedited processing. That's why we're sure this will be a popular choice for travelers when it rolls out. And there is also a good incentive for airlines and governments with improved data quality, optimized resource requirements and identification of admissibility issues before passengers arrive at the airport,” said Nick Careen, senior vice president of operations, security and IATA protection. 

What travelers will be able to do in the future: 

Create a verified digital identity using your airline's app on your smartphone  
Using your digital identity, they can submit proof of all required documentation to destination authorities prior to travel. 
Receive a digital 'admissibility approval' on your digital identity/passport application
Share the verified credential (not all of its details) with your airline 
Receive confirmation from your airline that everything is in order and proceed to the airport. 

data security 

New standards have been developed to protect passenger data and ensure that travel remains accessible to all. Passengers remain in control of their data and only credentials (verified approvals, not the data behind them) are shared between peers (no intermediaries). This is interoperable with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, including those for the digital travel credential. Manual processing options will remain so that travelers can opt out of digital admissibility processing. 
 

“Travellers can be sure that this process will be convenient and safe. A key point is that information is shared on a need-to-know basis. While a government may request detailed personal information to issue a visa, the only information that will be shared with the airline is that the traveler has a visa and under what conditions. And by keeping the passenger in control of their own data, you don't create large databases that need protection. By design, we are building in simplicity, security and convenience,” said Louise Cole, IATA Head Customer Experience and Facilitation.