Air Canada’s new system lets travellers get around airport without ID

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Canadian airline Air Canada is launching a new identification system on Tuesday allowing travellers to get around the airport without reaching for their passport or driver’s license.

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After travellers upload their information to the Air Canada app on their phone, they’ll be able to go through the airport by simply showing their face, according to the Air Canada webpage dedicated to the new system. They’ll be “hands-free through select airport identity verification checkpoints” without having to take out a boarding pass or government ID, per the airline.

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“Our digital identification technology takes measurements of the face and creates a numeric representation called a faceprint. The faceprint is then compared to verify a person’s identity,” Air Canada said.

It is the first Canadian airline to offer such a service, per a news release about the launch on Tuesday.

In a statement over email to the National Post, the airline said the system “streamlines the boarding process, making it faster and convenient for customers, and thereby improving the travel experience.”

Who can use Air Canada’s new ID system?

The new facial ID system launched as a boarding option at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) for nearly all domestic flights, Air Canada said.

“Digital identification will allow travellers to quickly and securely verify their identity at key airport touchpoints — similar to unlocking a smartphone or securing transactions,” said President and CEO at YVR Tamara Vrooman, per the news release. “This enhanced process will reduce wait times and provide a more convenient and hassle-free journey.”

The system is also available for any travellers eligible to visit Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges at Toronto’s Pearson or Vancouver’s international airports. Travellers at Pearson who have access to Air Canada Cafe can use the system as well.

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The system will be rolled out to other Canadian airports, but there is no specific timeline, Air Canada said in an email to the National Post.

How does Air Canada’s new ID system work?

Travellers have to use the app to upload a passport photo followed by a selfie in order to create what the airline calls a “digital profile.” The profile contains “only your selfie, a unique identifier, and details from your passport,” the airline said.

“Your facial biometrics are immediately deleted and will not remain part of your digital profile,” per Air Canada.

“When you present your face to a camera at certain airport identification checkpoints, a faceprint will be created from your live facial image to compare with faceprints in the day-of-travel gallery. If there is a match, you may board your flight or enter the Maple Leaf Lounge or Air Canada Café. The faceprint from your live camera image is instantaneously deleted.”

The airline said it is not affiliated with any government-sponsored programs, such as NEXUS.

Do travellers have to use the new ID system when it’s available?

No, the system is not mandatory. “Customers must opt in to use digital ID,” Air Canada told the National Post.

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Are there any security concerns, for example, if a phone is stolen?

If a phone is stolen and someone uses it to try to board a flight, that person would be unsuccessful.

“The camera at the boarding gate scans the passenger’s face, and this must match to the customer’s digital profile created on their phone,” Air Canada told the National Post.

“Additionally, data given to Air Canada via Digital ID is only used to satisfy the government requirement to confirm ID prior to boarding. This technology satisfies that requirement in a more seamless way for customers. The data is not used for any other purpose.”

Where else is facial recognition technology being used?

Facial recognition technology is used by many other airports around the world, including the United States, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States said they use facial ID technology for screening at select airports, according to the TSA’s website. In Australia, the SmartGate system is in place and is used for “facial recognition and identity confirmation” at major international airports, per Australian Border Force. 

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Zayed International Airport in the United Arab Emirates has integrated facial recognition into its travel experience, it says on the airport’s website.

Most British citizens also have access to electronic gates (or egates) that use facial recognition technology at some airports, according to the U.K.’s government website.

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