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A vital travel essential may soon be obsolete amid what is being called the biggest shakeup in 50 years.
The International Civil Aviation (ICAO), which oversees many aspects of aviation, is abolishing current rules for airports and airlines with a focus on creating a "digital travel credential," the UK Times reported. The new policy will allow passengers to upload their passports and passport information to their phones and be cleared by using their face for identification.
The changes in verification are expected to be implemented within "two to three years," eliminating the need to check in for flights online or at the airport.
“These changes are the biggest in 50 years,” said Valérie Viale, director of product management at Amadeus, which is the world’s largest travel technology company, told the UK Times. “Many airline systems haven’t changed for more than 50 years because everything has to be consistent across the industry and interoperable."
Air travelers are currently required to check in for their flight either online or upon arriving at the airport, at which point they receive a boarding pass with a barcode, which is scanned at the gate by security prior to boarding. Travelers will soon be issued a "journey pass" on their phones, which will contain all passport details, upon booking a flight, which will automatically with any potential changes made.
A passenger's face will be scanned upon arriving at the airport, which will alert the airline of their intention to fly, which will occur at the bag drop-off for passengers checking luggage and at security checkpoints for carry-on passengers.