Paperless Airport Entry: Digi Yatra trial begins for international flights, facial recognition technology will make your face your boarding pass, providing significant relief at airport entry and security checks.

Air travel without a passport

Paperless Airport Entry: This is a very comforting news for air travelers. Now, from entering many major airports in the country to boarding a plane, you won't need to repeatedly take out your passport or boarding pass from your pocket. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Digi Yatra Foundation are jointly expanding this unique e-gate technology, after domestic passengers, to international flights as well. Under this new system, your face will become your primary identification card and boarding pass.

What is this new technology and how does it work?

This modern technology, which allows for document-free travel at airports, is called Digi Yatra. The entire system is based on facial recognition technology. Until now, this feature was only available for domestic flights, but now trials are being conducted for international travelers as well.

The way this technology works is quite simple. Specialized biometric e-gates have been installed at airport entry gates, security checkpoints, and boarding gates. These gates are equipped with high-tech cameras. As a passenger approaches these gates, the camera scans their face. Once the face is matched with the data stored in the system, the e-gate automatically opens, allowing the passenger to proceed.

How to use this technology while traveling?

To take advantage of this paperless and contactless service during international air travel, passengers need to follow a few simple steps. First, download the Digi Yatra app to their mobile phone. Then, enter your Aadhaar card or passport number to create an account.

After creating an account, travelers must upload a clear selfie through the app. Then, whenever you book an international flight, you'll need to share a digital copy of your boarding pass and passport with the app a few hours before departure. Upon arrival at the airport, you simply need to look into the e-gate camera and your verification will be completed in an instant.

What will be the biggest benefit to the passengers?

The implementation of this new technology will save passengers precious time. Typically, passengers on international flights have to wait in long lines for check-in, immigration, and security checks, wasting hours. With this digital system, gate verification will be completed in mere seconds, completely eliminating airport congestion.

The system is also extremely secure, as facial recognition technology minimizes the possibility of fraud or the use of forged documents. Furthermore, passenger data is fully protected; this data is fully encrypted and automatically deleted from the system within 24 hours of the trip's completion.