DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
A system to ensure biometric personal identification security is integrated and interoperable at airports worldwide has been initiated by the International Air Transport Association working with a SITA-led industry group. Known asS-Travel (secure travel), the system will authenticate identity, track passengers from check-in to boarding, and serve as the basic security check for airside employees.
Trials will begin "later this year", says telecommunications provider SITA. Meanwhile, IATA will define the enrolment procedures to enable airlines to register frequent fliers and their own employees. SITA will work with IATA to develop industry standards to "ensure provision of an interoperable global solution".
After identity checks, those registered would be issued with a smart card containing biometric data and digital certificates. SITA says this "will be able to interface and be interoperable with current and future airport infrastructures". IATA and SITA will jointly provide the individual digital certificates, GEMPLUS the smart cards, and Keyware the biometric technology integration.
Amsterdam Schiphol airport is to link up with IBM to offer a biometric identity check system to other airports. In use at Schiphol since October, the Automatic Border Passage system consists of iris-scanning reconciled against individual identity smart cards.Source: Flight International
