Aviation Industry Coalition Presses EU to Protect Voluntary use of Biometric Travel Technology

October 20, 2026 in Business, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Five aviation and travel technology organisations are urging EU policymakers to protect the voluntary use of biometric identification in air travel while preserving passenger privacy, consent and non-biometric alternatives.

 

Five aviation and travel technology organisations have formed a coalition to lobby European Union policymakers to preserve the voluntary use of biometric identification in air travel, warning that proposed changes to the bloc’s digital regulations could constrain technologies designed to speed up passenger processing.

The Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition brings together Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE), Amadeus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), IDEMIA Public Security and SITA. It wants the EU’s proposed Digital Omnibus legislation to support the use of biometrics while maintaining safeguards for privacy, cybersecurity and passenger choice.

The initiative brings together airport operators, airlines’ industry representation and technology suppliers, reflecting the breadth of commercial interests in the transition towards digital passenger processing.

The coalition’s intervention highlights a growing policy challenge for aviation as airports seek to accommodate rising passenger volumes through digitalisation without weakening protections over personal data.

The Digital Omnibus is intended to simplify Europe’s digital regulatory framework, encourage innovation and strengthen competitiveness. However, the coalition argues that aspects of the proposal could unintentionally restrict the voluntary use of biometric data by travellers.

Its proposed solution is a technology-neutral regulatory framework that permits biometric verification where appropriate safeguards are in place, while retaining non-biometric alternatives for passengers who do not wish to participate.

Biometric systems can allow passengers to verify their identity using facial recognition or other biological characteristics, reducing the need to repeatedly present passports and boarding passes at different stages of a journey.

For airports and airlines, the technology offers the prospect of faster passenger processing, improved terminal flows and more efficient use of existing infrastructure. It could also help manage peak-period congestion and allow airport personnel to concentrate on travellers requiring additional assistance.

The industry’s argument is that these operational gains will become more important as air traffic grows and airport capacity struggles to keep pace with demand.

The International Civil Aviation Organization forecasts that global passenger traffic will reach 12.4 billion annually by 2050, nearly three times the 2024 level. Digital identity systems could help airports handle that growth without relying exclusively on physical infrastructure expansion.

However, the potential efficiency gains depend partly on public confidence in how biometric information is collected, stored and used.

The coalition says participation should remain voluntary, with passengers retaining the ability to choose conventional identification methods. It also calls for biometric use to be restricted to a defined journey and for travellers to be able to request deletion of their data at any time.

According to the coalition, 74pc of travellers surveyed in IATA’s Global Passenger Survey were willing to share biometric data instead of presenting a passport or boarding pass. The finding suggests considerable interest in faster identification processes, although willingness to participate does not remove the need for meaningful consent and privacy protections.

The five organisations have published an Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe manifesto setting out their proposed approach to regulation. They are calling for greater legal clarity to support investment and the deployment of biometric solutions, alongside continued cooperation between the travel industry and public authorities.

The coalition also argues that regulatory certainty could help European technology companies develop and scale solutions in their home market, strengthening the region’s position in travel technology.

Yet the policy question extends beyond operational efficiency. Biometric identification involves the processing of personal data that cannot be changed as easily as a password if compromised. Its adoption therefore requires clear limits on data use, secure handling and alternatives for passengers who decline participation.

For policymakers, the challenge will be to distinguish rules that unnecessarily obstruct useful technology from safeguards that protect fundamental rights. The industry argues that a regulatory framework that prioritises convenience without preserving genuine passenger choice could undermine the public trust on which wider adoption depends.

The coalition is being represented by ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec; Amadeus Senior Vice President for Industry Affairs Global Development Fernando Cuesta; IATA Senior Vice President for External Affairs Thomas Reynaert; IDEMIA Public Security Senior Vice President for Corporate Relations Lisa Shoemaker; and SITA Senior Vice President for Borders Pedro Alves.

The group says sustained engagement between industry and regulators will be necessary to balance innovation, airport capacity and competitiveness with Europe’s established privacy standards.

Its immediate objective is to ensure that the Digital Omnibus creates room for voluntary biometric travel solutions rather than imposing restrictions that could limit their use across the European air transport network.