A new travel industry coalition has urged EU policymakers to ensure the bloc’s Digital Omnibus supports voluntary biometric journeys while protecting passenger choice and privacy.
ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA announced the formation of the Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition on October 1, calling for a balanced regulatory framework for secure biometric technology in air travel.
The coalition said biometric verification can reduce repeated manual document checks, improve passenger flows and help airports use existing terminal infrastructure more efficiently. It said the technology could also help staff focus on passengers who need additional assistance during peak periods.
The group wants the EU’s Digital Omnibus to adopt technology-neutral rules that allow the voluntary use of biometric data where safeguards are in place, while ensuring non-biometric alternatives remain available.
The debate comes as digital identity, travel authorisations and automated border processes become a larger part of the passenger journey. Emerging Travel recently reported that most travellers complete ESTA and ETA forms correctly first time, underlining how digital checks are increasingly part of mainstream international travel.
The coalition said passengers should be able to choose whether to share biometric data and request deletion of their data at any time. It said biometric use should be voluntary, secure and limited to a defined journey.
It cited IATA’s Global Passenger Survey, which found that 74% of travellers surveyed were willing to share biometric data instead of showing a passport or boarding pass.
“EU policymakers have the opportunity to put Europe in the global lead on biometric regulation,” the coalition said. “The benefits of the latest technologies are clear: they can protect passenger data privacy and open a more seamless and efficient travel process.”
The coalition’s senior representatives include Olivier Jankovec of ACI EUROPE, Fernando Cuesta of Amadeus, Thomas Reynaert of IATA, Lisa Shoemaker of IDEMIA Public Security and Pedro Alves of SITA.
Its manifesto, titled Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe, calls for public-private dialogue, clearer rules on biometric data and an approach that helps Europe respond to rising passenger volumes and limited airport capacity.