Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Montreal Airport have successfully completed a study which shows that the time passengers spend at airport checks could be halved using new technology.
The experiment, conducted by the two airports over a period of three months, studied 1 500 travellers who flew between Amsterdam and Montreal. The travellers were able to use a digital passport app and digital travel credentials (DTC) to navigate their departures and arrivals.
Participants in the study had to scan their passports up to three days before the flight, fill in a list of details and take strictly prescribed images and photos of themselves. Authorities then checked these details and could flag issues before a passenger arrived at the airport, according to Netherlands publication NL Times.
The Dutch government explained that, once the digital check was completed, passengers were given a digital admission ticket and could pass through passport control by simply showing their face and scanning their DTC at a special ‘tap and go’ border gate.
On average, this reduced the time spent at airport checks by half. Researchers said passengers had experienced a few difficulties in scanning their passports and taking the necessary videos and images, which they referred to as ‘teething problems’.
National carriers KLM and Air Canada also participated in the study. “As an airline, KLM is responsible for passport checks as well as check-in and boarding. Digitisation provides an opportunity to make these checks faster and more efficient for our customers, starting from home. To do so properly, legislation and regulations are needed. That’s why we are happy to be participating in the trial conducted by the Dutch government so that we can share our expertise and improve our services,” said Barry ter Voert, Chief Experience Officer of KLM.
