After a long experimental phase that began in February 2020, Milan’s Linate airport is officially equipped with the FaceBoarding service, the scanner that uses a biometric system for the facial recognition of passengers: it will be enough to show only the face without using passports or identity cards, significantly streamlining the procedures required and disposing of the mass of travelers much more quickly, especially during periods of the year when traffic volumes increase inexorably.
The new system is not mandatory: all traditional methods will always be available and the various airlines, for which FaceBoarding becomes operational from May 7, will also decide whether to use it or not. Among the first companies to join the new service are Ita Airways and Sas (Scandinavian Airlines). With facial recognition, the passenger experience is optimised: use will be possible for those who have previously registered in the ad hoc points scattered throughout the airport or via an app which will be available from next June. “For the process to be successful, you can register as soon as you have your boarding pass starting from one week before the flight and up to 30 minutes before the departure of the flight itself”, explain the experts.
The new super technological system works everywhere, from the access turnstiles to the control area to the boarding gate which becomes to all intents and purposes “self-service”: the tests carried out in recent years have given positive results with an important evolution. Passengers will also be able to decide whether to use this new possibility for a single flight or with an annual registration. The new and safe technology developed with the help of the State Police and ENAC guarantees maximum privacy of data concerning passengers.
Linate is the first European airport to use this new system for security checks.
