Following years of preparation, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is moving ahead with plans to roll out a Digital Travel Credential (DTC) to make travel more efficient.
The most recent proposal of the policy, published in December 2024, outlines practical steps to implement the facial-recognition-based travel document verification system across international airports.
The DTC, stored on passengers’ smartphones, along with facial recognition systems installed at international airports, would allow travellers’ identity documents to be instantly verified from check-in to boarding and arrival.
Acsa has previously committed to installing biometric technology at its international airports. However, its most recent tender for a biometric project, with the French technology company, IDEMIA, fell through in September 2024, as reported by Travel News.
This shift towards digital and biometric travel technology at international airports will be reinforced with ICAO's proposal to go fully digital.
According to ICAO, this shift towards digital identity verification will speed up processes at airports, reduce queues, and help prevent identity fraud.
SITA, an air transport technology consultant, is assisting this digital transition at many international airports around the world.
“It’s a very exciting journey and one we’ve been on for a while,” SITA’s Director of Industry and Innovation, Andy Smith, told local radio station 702.
“Where we’re getting to now is the ability for travellers to get a very positive idea that they are going to be able to travel through an airport, across borders, seamlessly and without having to present either their passport or their boarding pass multiple times.”
In its early stages, the DTC system will be voluntary, and only compatible with smartphones equipped with facial recognition technology.
