Face boarding arrives for flights between Italy and U.S., world premiere at Fiumicino
Fiumicino Airport continues to focus on technology for passenger safety and comfort. It launched today the [...]
Delta
FCO
Fiumicino Airport continues to focus on technology for passenger safety and comfort. A new check-in and boarding system for travelers started today that, through biometric facial identification, will make their transit through the airport easier, faster and safer.
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The project, in partnership with Delta Air Lines and in collaboration with Sita, a global provider of technology for the air transportation industry, involves the installation at certain areas of the airport of equipment capable of detecting the biometric facial characteristics of passengers to ensure their identification by temporarily capturing the information contained in identification documents and on boarding passes.
The Project is part of a broader Aeroporti di Roma strategy that focuses on digitization, security, innovation and environmental sustainability. In addition to biometrics, ADR is pursuing several initiatives and partnerships in the field of innovation, primarily including the creation in the coming months of the first Italian incubator dedicated to the aviation sector.
Biometric operation is simple, fast, secure, and is for now reserved for passengers on Delta flights departing from the Fiumicino to the United States. A multimedia totem apparatus detects the biometric characteristics of the face and electronically captures the information contained in the passport and on boarding passes. This data is associated with the face through appropriately arranged cameras, in full compliance with privacy regulations. After that, it is no longer necessary to show documents or boarding passes. No photos are stored. The system temporarily detects only the biometric contours of the face which are used for passenger recognition. The same procedure is also operational in the United States, thus completing the service on both directions and thus making it the first round-trip intercontinental connection completely with biometric and contactless recognition. Delta's news will be enriched with the launch of the new direct Rome-Boston connection, scheduled to depart in early August.
This system allows for the use of dedicated lanes, simplifying the conduct of check-in procedures, security checks and boarding the plane, reducing passenger waiting time with obvious benefits to the overall quality of the travel experience and takes on even more value at this particular time as it allows for an entirely touchless process further lowering the risk of Covid-19 infection.
"This innovation at the Roman airport together with Delta," commented Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer of ADR, "is part of a broader Aeroporti di Roma strategy that focuses on innovation, digitization and sustainability to set the new standards for the airport of the future. In these pandemic months, our goal has been to continue to offer a quality and safe experience even in the delicate and complex times we have been facing. We are moving into an era of great innovation that will involve the entire air transport industry, and we are continuing on our path as a system player alongside key global leaders. The project that kicks off today goes exactly in this direction: ensuring that the connectivity of the future takes off."
"Delta," said Roberto Ioriatti, senior vice president Transatlantic & Transpacific Pricing & Revenue at Delta Air Lines, "continues to lead the market with innovations that make travel an experience our customers look forward to. We were the first airline to launch a biometric terminal in the United States, and through this partnership with Aeroporti di Roma we are offering this technology solution as a fast and convenient option for passengers at our Italian hub."
