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COVER STORY
we have no way of verifying the authenticity
of test and vaccine information presented
by travelers. Furthermore, because it
takes significant time to check each document,
it will be extremely time consuming
and resource intensive for check-in agents
to verify every single passenger once travel
demand picks up, " says Kaminogo.
" We think that a securely managed app
such as IATA Travel Pass will help address
the challenges mentioned above and contribute
to the restart of travel. "
Utsunomiya says that JAL received similarly
positive feedback from their passengers
who chose to utilize the app.
" We have received positive responses
such as: Since it is digitalized and stored
in your own device it is impossible to lose
compared to paper certificates, there is no
need to revisit the clinic to receive paper
certificate, check-in procedure became
faster and smoother, being able to see the
verification prior to departure provided
peace of mind, the app functions without
any internet once the personal data is registered, "
Utsunomiya says.
Though, Utsunomiya also notes that
there were some challenges with the app
that the airline had to overcome. The
limitation of healthcare institutions that
were able to issue COVID-19 test results via
IATA Travel Pass decreased the opportunities
of customers who did not live nearby
or if they had a preferred clinic not listed.
In the future, the increase of healthcare
institutions is expected which will make
the app more reachable and practical for
travelers.
" Also, since the IATA Travel Pass app
is only delivered in English as of today, we
had to take extra steps in creating Japanese
instructions to make clear of how to use
the app. We will hope for the IATA Travel
Pass itself to cover multilanguage, or either
consider a way to translate the app through
system integration, " Utsunomiya adds.
The Biometric Boon
When the pandemic comes to an end, Leger
says the Travel Pass will continue to live on
as a contactless travel and biometric app.
" We always had in mind that if and
when COVID would disappear, the application
that you have downloaded, and
that you are using to manage your digital
identity, or to understand the regulatory
requirements, will still be of use after the
crisis. So, we have tried to build a product
that is sustainable beyond the crisis. Of
course, today the primary focus is making
sure that the industry restarts and that
people can understand the requirements,
get their tests and certificate, and then use
that to travel, " Leger says.
" But when these will disappear, hopefully
in the next 18 to 24 months, the app
might still be used for the contactless purpose
or for additional services that we are
thinking about right now. "
However, biometric technology and
contactless travel has been an area where
the United States has lagged compared to
other areas. Hans Miller, co-founder of
Airside, says, though, the pandemic has
accelerated the acceptance and deployment
of biometric technology and speculates that
it will be adopted sooner than it would have
without it.
" We think that what the industry calls
'seamless travel' is being greatly accelerated
by the pandemic. Seamless travel is the idea
of using facial recognition technology in
place of presenting physical documentation
at every touch point along your journey, "
Miller says.
22 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE SEPTEMBER 2021
" We think along with that, you're going
to see some interesting twists, " he continues.
" It wouldn't surprise me to see reservation
systems pop up for going through
security or visiting a certain destination,
like Venice, Italy. This would enable a
metered flow through choke points. We
think that things like fast lanes where
you're pre-approved or pre-cleared, like
TSA Pre-Check, will become even more
important and popular to increase the flow
of people and reduce crowding in lines. "
For example, Airside is currently partnered
with American Airlines to provide a
mobile ID verification service for bag check
and lounge access.
" The trial was very successful. We're
thankful for our partners at American
Airlines and Thales, who really are doing
a phenomenal job. There are many, many
other tests and pilots and prototypes being
rolled out around the world using facial
recognition to make travel faster and easier
with less crowding and fewer lines, " Miller
points out.
Miller says biometric identity technology
is enabling seamless travel in airports like
Dubai and Shanghai, but that the U.S. is not
yet at the biometric tipping point.
" When everyone becomes more educated
about biometrics and comfortable with how
september2021

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