3-month trial for Vistara’s domestic fliers from today
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) in association with Vistara Airlines will launch Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology-based Biometric Facial Recognition System (BFRS) for domestic fliers at T3 terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi from Friday for three months on trial basis.
The plan is being rolled out to demonstrate Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel Experience (BEST).
The DIAL said after the successful completion of the trial, the facility would be officially launched at T3 and subsequently at IGIA terminals.
DIAL spokesperson said, “This is an integrated solution for the e-gates, facial recognition cameras, and software platform from Vision Box, a multinational technology company headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal. It will be truly a seamless experience for the passengers. Participation in is voluntary. Passengers’ permission will be taken by asking them to sign a form.”
Passengers’ entry would be automatically processed based on the facial recognition system at all check points, including airport entry, entry into security checks and aircraft boarding.
When asked how this procedure will start with passenger at airport, DIAL spokesperson said, “The enrollment process for the passengers with valid flight tickets and Government ID proofs will start at the registration kiosk. Post this, their facial details will be captured by the camera.”
“Simultaneously, the documents provided by the passenger will be validated by a CISF official at the kiosk and s/he will physically check the applicant’s ID proof and confirm on the system,” said the official.
Further, the passenger can approach the dedicated departure e-gate, which is fitted with facial recognition cameras.
“The e-gates will open automatically after the facial recognition process is completed. The passenger can then proceed towards the check-in counters to drop their bags. If they are not carrying any bags, they can head straight to security screening, where the facial recognition cameras are installed,” said DIAL official, adding, “Once the passenger clears the security screening formality s/he can go and board flight through the dedicated boarding e-gates. These gates too open automatically after the camera recognises the passenger’s registered face,” said the official.
Notably, keeping data privacy on top, DIAL cleared that there will be no storage of the biometric details by the airport. “During the trial period, the biometric details will be stored temporarily only to enable the departure process. As soon as the flight departs, the data of the registered passengers will be deleted,” it said.
DIAL also claimed that this solution is in compliant with the guidelines of privacy-by-design, an internationally recognised standard for privacy
Once the complete “Digi Yatra” platform comes into existence, it will expedite the boarding process by facilitating one-time registration by the passengers. Each time a passenger travels (anywhere in India), the concerned Airport with the Biometric Boarding solution installed, can go through the system.
