Digi Yatra to be available to passengers flying overseas, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Digi Yatra, India's facial recognition-based airport access system, is set to expand its biometric travel system to international departures.
• A pilot program for international departures will run from October to December at Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Mumbai airports.
• The system aims for interoperability with the European Union’s Digital Identity framework to facilitate seamless cross-border travel.
• This initiative aligns with the global International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) One ID initiative for contactless air travel.
• Domestically, Digi Yatra is currently active at 39 airports and is projected to expand to 64 airports by March 2027.

Detailed Insights:

• The international pilot will test electronic passport-based enrolment, allowing travellers to verify identity with a selfie.
• Digital credentials will be stored on the passenger’s phone and linked to a boarding pass issued by airlines before airport arrival.
• Air India and IndiGo are expected to participate in the trial, covering both Indian and foreign nationals on international flights.
• Initially, the system will be used at airport entry points and security checkpoints, with immigration excluded due to its regulatory and operational sensitivity.
• The pre-issuance of boarding passes is a key change, creating a unique digital identity recognized at various airport gates.
• Interoperability with the EU Digital Identity framework is being pursued through the APTITUDE consortium for cross-border sharing of travel credentials within three to six months.
• The long-term objective is for passengers to share verified credentials with both departure and destination airports.
• Inconsistent face-based boarding domestically is attributed to varying investment decisions, infrastructure gaps, and differing operational priorities among airlines and airport operators.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Digi Yatra: A biometric-enabled seamless travel experience for passengers at Indian airports using facial recognition technology.
• Biometric Travel System: An automated passenger processing system that uses unique biological characteristics, like facial features, for identification.
• E-passport: A passport embedded with an electronic microchip containing biometric information for secure identity verification.
• EU Digital Identity: A framework allowing EU citizens, residents, and businesses to store and share verified digital identity data and official documents.
• IATA One ID: An International Air Transport Association initiative promoting a single token (biometric) for seamless, contactless passenger identification throughout the airport journey.
• Self-sovereign identity: A digital identity approach where individuals have control over their personal data and how it is shared.