Skift Travel News Blog

Frankfurt Airport is set to expand its suite of biometric touchpoints to passengers of all airlines within the facility.

The technology – SITA’s Smart Path biometric solution, powered by NEC – is already available for Lufthansa and Star Alliance Airlines passengers, which has seen over 12,000 passengers use the facilities at check-in, boarding pass control and boarding gates, according to a release from Fraport.

The technology gives passengers the opportunity to use their faces as their boarding pass by registering in advance on their mobile device through the app or directly at the check-in kiosk with their biometrics-enabled passports. 

When their registration is complete, passengers will be able to pass through the facial recognition-equipped checkpoints without showing any physical documents. 

“Together with Lufthansa and the Star Alliance airlines, we have been offering this innovative service since 2020, an experience – with the help of SITA and NEC – which will now be extended to all airlines. We are the first European airport to offer all passengers a contactless and convenient passenger journey using biometrics. Our goal for the coming months is to equip at least 50 percent of all check-in kiosks, pre-security and boarding gates  with the new and pioneering technology,” said Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Fraport AG’s executive director aviation and infrastructure.

Baggage trolleys with built in smart technology have been introduced at Munich Airport, allowing travelers to receive flight information and real time updates via a built in tablet.

The new technology has been launched as part of a six-month pilot project in partnership with Intelligent Track Systems, and are available to use for free within the airport’s Terminal 2.

In order to use the new technology, passengers will need to scan their boarding card or manually input their flight details, and the tablet will then provide access to real-time flight updates. The tablet also acts as an interactive map and guide of the terminal, allowing users to locate airport facilities, such as shops and restaurants.

“Digitalization doesn’t always have to happen in the background. These tablets help our guests find their way around the terminal while ensuring they can always keep an eye on the latest flight information. The project is another element of our premium innovation hub. By connecting the digital and the analog world, it will bring real added value for our passengers,” said Dr. Jan-Henrik Andersson, chief commercial officer of Munich Airport.