Relief from those never-ending airport lineups could be on the way, as Air Canada is set to become the first airline in Canada to use digital identification at pilot projects in airports in Vancouver and Toronto.
Currently underway, Air Canada’s digital identification is available for customers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) when boarding select flights to Winnipeg, and for eligible customers entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Air Canada plans to expand digital identification options to select Canadian airports and Maple Leaf Lounges as part of its pilot project phase.
“Many of our customers already utilize digital credentials to simplify their daily activities such as unlocking mobile phones, entering workplaces, verifying identification during financial transactions and more,” said Craig Landry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada. “We are very excited to now take a leadership position in Canada and test digital identification using facial recognition technology to validate customer identification quickly, securely and accurately at select airport touchpoints. Participation in digital identification is voluntary. Customers choosing to use digital identification will benefit from a simplified and seamless process at the gate and when entering our Maple Leaf Lounges.”
The technology is being rolled out as pilot projects and regular use at airports around the world.
According to one report, Star Alliance, the world’s largest group of airlines, set of goal of 50 per ent biometric technology use by 2025.
For the time being, the pilot projects are consent-based, which means eligible customers in Toronto and Vancouver will be invited to use the digital ID option via the Air Canada app. If they consent, they will received instructions on how to create their secure digital faceprint prior to arriving at the airport.
But they will not have to do so.
In Toronto, for instance, customers may elect to continue scanning their boarding cards manually as they do now to enter the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson.
According to the airline, Digital identification is a single enrollment feature on the Air Canada app.
“Biometric data is encrypted and stored only on the customer’s mobile phone. Customers must provide additional consent for the data to be used day-of travel and will only be retained for up to 36 hours subject to Air Canada’s rigorous privacy and security standards.  More information about digital identification is here,” read a press release.
The federal government is supportive of the move. The digital ID project is not related to any government-sponsored program like NEXUS, Global Entry or US CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC).
“Our government and Canadian airlines and airports are eager to move forward with innovative solutions and technologies to modernize the traveller journey in airports across the country, which would enable a more seamless and efficient air transportation system,” said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport – Government of Canada. “Air Canada’s pilot project will speed up processes at YVR, and other airports where it’s established, while respecting robust privacy measures and security standards. This project has great potential in making gate boarding easier and faster for Canadian passengers, while maintaining strong safety measures,” Air Canada’s digital identification is strictly an optional, consent-based Air Canada program.
