Five major organizations from across the global air transport and travel technology sectors have formed the Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition, calling on European Union policymakers to ensure that the proposed Digital Omnibus supports the voluntary and secure use of biometric technologies in air travel while protecting passenger choice and privacy. The coalition brings together ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), IDEMIA Public Security, and SITA.
The organizations are seeking what they describe as a balanced regulatory framework that can enable more efficient and convenient air travel while maintaining safeguards for the responsible handling of passengers’ biometric data. The coalition has also published the “Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe” Manifesto, outlining its recommendations for policymakers and setting out industry commitments on the responsible use of biometric technologies.
Coalition Calls for Balanced Approach to EU Digital Rules
The Digital Omnibus is designed to simplify Europe’s digital regulatory framework, encourage innovation and strengthen competitiveness while maintaining high standards of data protection and cybersecurity. However, the coalition said the current legislative proposal could unintentionally place restrictions on passengers who voluntarily choose to use biometric technologies during their journeys.
The organizations are therefore calling on EU policymakers to ensure that the Digital Omnibus preserves passenger choice and enables travellers to benefit from biometric technology where appropriate safeguards are in place. The coalition is advocating for technology-neutral rules that allow voluntary biometric use while ensuring passengers have access to non-biometric alternatives.
Biometrics Could Improve Passenger Processing
According to the coalition, biometric technologies can make the airport experience more seamless by reducing the need for passengers to repeatedly present physical travel documents and boarding passes at different stages of their journey. Biometric verification can also help increase passenger throughput, improve passenger flows and make more efficient use of existing airport infrastructure. The technology could be particularly useful during peak travel periods as airports face increasing passenger volumes.
The coalition said improved processing could also allow airport staff to focus more attention on passengers who require assistance or additional support, rather than repeatedly carrying out manual document checks. The organizations argue that these operational benefits could contribute to Europe’s competitiveness by supporting more efficient airports and encouraging innovation across the travel and technology sectors.
Industry Seeks Strong Privacy Safeguards
While promoting the use of biometric technology, the coalition has stressed that passenger privacy and individual choice must remain central to any future regulatory framework. According to the coalition, biometric journeys should be voluntary, secure and limited to a defined journey. Passengers should also have the ability to decide whether to share their biometric information and request deletion of their data when applicable.
The coalition said the development of biometric travel systems should therefore be accompanied by strong safeguards designed to protect personal data and fundamental rights. Research cited by the coalition from IATA’s Global Passenger Survey found that 74 percent of surveyed travellers were willing to share biometric data instead of showing a passport or boarding pass.
Coalition Calls for Legal Clarity
The industry coalition is also seeking greater legal clarity around the use of biometric data in travel. It argues that clear and predictable rules would allow airports, airlines, and technology companies to responsibly deploy biometric solutions while maintaining appropriate privacy and security standards. The coalition said regulatory clarity could also encourage continued investment and enable European technology companies to develop and scale trusted biometric solutions within the European market.
Manifesto Sets Out Industry Recommendations
The “Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe” Manifesto sets out the coalition’s proposed approach to the development and regulation of biometric technologies across the European travel ecosystem. The manifesto calls for stronger public-private dialogue on biometrics as Europe prepares for increasing passenger volumes and capacity pressures at airports. It also seeks greater legal clarity to facilitate the responsible deployment of technologies that can provide practical benefits to travellers. The coalition said collaboration between industry stakeholders and public authorities will be important to ensure that technological innovation develops alongside Europe’s existing standards for privacy and fundamental rights.
Industry Leaders Represent Five Coalition Members
The coalition includes senior representatives from each of its five member organizations. The participating representatives are Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE; Fernando Cuesta, Senior Vice President, Industry Affairs, Global Development at Amadeus; Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at IATA; Lisa Shoemaker, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations at IDEMIA Public Security; and Pedro Alves, Senior Vice President, Borders at SITA. The coalition said its members bring expertise from different parts of the travel ecosystem, including airports, airlines, travel technology, identity solutions and border management.
Industry Highlights Growing Pressure on Airport Capacity
The coalition’s call comes amid projections of substantial long-term growth in global air travel. The industry cites International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forecasts that global air passenger traffic could reach 12.4 billion passengers annually by 2050, nearly three times 2024 levels.
Against this backdrop, the coalition argues that digital identity and biometric technologies could help airports process increasing passenger volumes more efficiently, make better use of existing infrastructure and support a secure and seamless passenger experience. The organizations nevertheless maintain that technological adoption should not come at the expense of passenger choice or privacy protections.
Coalition Seeks Secure and Seamless Future for European Air Travel
The Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition said European policymakers have an opportunity to establish a regulatory framework that balances technological innovation with privacy, security and individual choice. The coalition’s position is that biometric technology can contribute to more efficient passenger processing and support Europe’s competitiveness, provided that passengers retain the option to participate voluntarily and appropriate safeguards are maintained.
The five organizations will engage with policymakers and regulators through the coalition to provide practical industry perspectives on biometric travel and contribute to discussions surrounding the Digital Omnibus. The coalition’s manifesto ultimately calls for a regulatory approach that allows Europe to develop biometric travel solutions while preserving privacy, passenger choice, data protection and fundamental rights as central principles.
