Star Alliance to introduce biometric data recognition

[webfact]

Star Alliance to introduce biometric data recognition

By THE NATION

 

(Photo from Star Alliance website)

 

Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, and NEC Corporation, a global leader in IT, network and biometric technologies, have entered into a partnership agreement to develop a biometric data-based identification platform that will significantly improve the travel experience for frequent flyer programme customers of Star Alliance member airlines.

 

The new platform aims to deliver a seamless customer journey and is expected to be introduced early next year. 

 

Once implemented, Star Alliance customers who opt-in to biometrics will have a seamless and hands-free passenger experience, allowing them to pass through curb-to-gate touchpoints within airports, such as check-in kiosks, bag-drop, lounges, and boarding gates, which traditionally require both a passport and boarding pass, by using a secure identity management solution featuring facial recognition technology.

 

Moreover, the platform will help airports and the Star Alliance member airlines to increase operational efficiency.

 

The service will be available to customers who are enrolled in one of the Star Alliance frequent flyer programmes and who have authorised the use of their biometric data.

 

Customers will have the option to enroll in the new platform via their smartphones. They only need to enroll once and can then use their biometrics data multiple times at biometrics touchpoints of any participating airport whenever they travel with a Star Alliance member airline.

 

Personal data, such as photo and other identification details, are encrypted and safely stored within the platform. From the outset, the system has been designed in compliance with applicable data protection laws making use of the latest facial recognition technology. Personal data will only be processed with the consent of the passenger. Passengers may be required to show their passport during security and immigration procedures.

 

“In NEC, we have found a strong partner who shares our vision of a seamless travel experience for air travellers. At Star Alliance we are committed to making the customer journey better, and this strategic partnership with NEC will help us make the way from curb to gate to aircraft a much simpler, yet innovative experience for our customers,” said Jeffrey Goh, chief executive of Star Alliance.

 

Takashi Niino, President and CEO of NEC Corporation, added: “NEC is pleased to join forces with Star Alliance to bring an improved cross terminal customer experience. Facial recognition is truly revolutionising the airline industry and making flying more enjoyable, just as it was always intended. In support of this partnership, similar to our implementations in United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, NEC will mobilise its global resources and provide local assistance to each of the member airlines to leverage this secure, interoperable platform and rapidly bring our common vision to reality.”

Star Alliance and NEC aim to introduce the first biometric solution at a Star Alliance airport hub by the first quarter of 2020.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-07-29

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[bluesofa]

An excellent advertorial with some spiffing management speak phrases embedded:

 

airline alliance, global leader in IT, network and biometric technologies, partnership agreement, biometric data-based identification platform, travel experience.

 

Travel experience? I only wanted to buy a ticket and sit in my seat on the plane, to get from A to B.

[chingmai331]

DId you read 'opt-in'?  You must choose to be bio-analyzed.  

[Sydebolle]

You can relax - it is optional as the legal grounds for all this are missing. 

If you want to share your biometric data, birth certificate and DNA-sample then go ahead. All others can carry on using airlines for what they are here for; to get from A to B! 

[JCauto]

15 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

You can relax - it is optional as the legal grounds for all this are missing. 

If you want to share your biometric data, birth certificate and DNA-sample then go ahead. All others can carry on using airlines for what they are here for; to get from A to B! 

And if you're flying to Thailand, as you likely do being a TV poster, then you too are sharing your biometric data! Not optional.

Privacy is dead and buried, and those who have done their best to avoid giving their data away will only come under increased suspicion by those collecting it.

[apophyss]

6 hours ago, chingmai331 said:

DId you read 'opt-in'?  You must choose to be bio-analyzed.  

Yes,

always start like this,

and we all know what happen after...