A new white paper is making the case for the implementation of digital travel credentials, arguing that this single change could solve the operational, financial, and security problems the travel industry has been wrestling with for a decade at ‘exactly the moment’ those problems are getting worse.
The paper by Indicio explains that digital travel credentials differ from the current digital identity checks at most airports today as these are token-based, or in other words a single-use artifact issued by one operator, used within that operator’s system, and then expiring at the end of the trip.
. . . One And Done
Digital travel credentials, it explains, need to be issued just once and continue to work, recognised by every operator that has agreed to honour it across airlines, airports, borders, and brands.
It will help airlines and airports cater to rising passenger volumes, with Indicio saying airports cannot expand floor space to meet this demand and therefore must have seamless identity verification and use contactless, frictionless corridors. For example, currently airlines need to re-verify a passenger’s identity at check-in, bag drop, security, lounge access, and the gate. With digital travel credentials, Indicio says identity is established once and then carried by the traveller.
Electronic Travel Authorizations and eVisas can be issued as Verifiable Credentials, it says, transforming border security. That is because these credentials enable pre-clearance and the identity check can happen days or weeks before the traveller arrives, rather than at the border.
It’s not just rising volumes that the digital traveller identity will help. It’s also rising fraud rates, as these identities are bound cryptographically to a person’s verified identity, so it cannot be faked, stolen, or used by anyone.
The white paper also points out readiness from travellers for this tech, citing an IATA study which found 78% of passengers want to use a smartphone that combines a digital wallet, digital passport, and loyalty cards to book, pay, and navigate airport processes.
“The identity systems running most airports and airlines today were designed for a world that no longer exists—one with fewer travellers, slower processes, and threats that were easier to anticipate,” the paper explains. “Today they are reaching the limit of what they can deliver.” See more HERE.
