• Miscellaneous

Pax want biometrics Pax want biometrics

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the results of its 2021 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), which delivered two main conclusions:

“Passengers have spoken and want technology to work harder, so they spend less time ‘being processed’ or standing in queues. And they are willing to use biometric data if it delivers this result. Before traffic ramps up, we have a window of opportunity to ensure a smooth return to travel post pandemic and deliver long-term efficiency improvements for passengers, airlines, airports and governments,” said  Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.

Biometric Identification

  • *73% of passengers are willing to share their biometric data to improve airport processes (up from 46% in 2019).
  • *88% will share immigration information prior to departure for expedited processing.
  • *36% have experienced the use of biometric data when traveling.
  • *Of these, 86% were satisfied with the experience.
  • *56% indicated concern about data breaches.
  • *52% want clarity on who the data is shared with and 51% want clarity on how it is used/processed.

Queuing

  • *55% of passengers identified queuing at boarding as a top area for improvement.
  • *41% identified queuing at security screening as a top priority for improvement.
  • *38% identified queuing time at border control / immigration as a top area for improvement.


Source: African Travel & Tourism Association