Border Force trials passport-less clearance to bring airports in line with Changi and Dubai
Facial recognition and biometric technology to streamline contactless passport control is the next step for Australian airports and a trial of the technology has already exceeded expectations.
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The days of not having to show a passport to clear airport security are getting closer after Australian Border Force reported that trials of “contactless” border clearance have exceeded expectations.
Qantas crew were used to test the system at Sydney Airport under which pilots and flight attendants were waved through immigration using facial recognition technology only.
In a speech to the Australian Airports Association conference in Brisbane this week, ABF acting deputy commissioner Nicole Spencer said the trial was looking at how to leverage developments in digital travel credentials.
“I am pleased to report the trial has exceeded expectations,” Ms Spencer said.
The ABF aims to have the technology in broad use by 2030, but Ms Spencer acknowledged there was still much work to do.
“Consideration of privacy obligations will be critical when we are thinking about how biometric galleries are created, and how we integrate government and industry touchpoints and processes to ensure a seamless flow for passengers,” she said.
Overseas airports are already well advanced with contactless travel, as facial screening is used widely at Singapore’s Changi, the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, and increasingly in the US.
Changi Airport implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals on September 30, and Frankfurt Airport in Germany has no passport checks for members of the Schengen Treaty (including Australia) and citizens of the European Union.
American Airlines allowed eligible flyers into its Dallas lounge based on facial recognition and United Airlines permitted some travellers to use their faces to check bags.
In contrast, Australia still required overseas arrivals to fill out an incoming passenger card; the exceptions are those on Qantas-operated flights from New Zealand to Brisbane.
As part of a pilot program being conducted by ABF, those passengers were able to fill out a digital declaration via the Qantas app, and Ms Spencer said the uptake was high.
“Pilot participants were asked about their experience upon arrival in Brisbane (and) comments ranged from: ‘about time’; ‘it made my life easier, I wasn’t reaching for that pen’ and ‘it was awesome, I’m already out’,” she said.
“We hope to be able to expand the pilot to flights departing from other countries and on to other destinations around Australia soon.”
Australian Airports Association chief executive Simon Westaway said the time had come to digitise and modernise international borders for departures and arrivals.
He said the federal government could easily provide more investment in the latest technology by directing funds collected from the $70 Passenger Movement Charge (PMC).
“The AAA believes the PMC should simply be better allocated, such as to effective Australian Border Force initiatives, to better enable Australia’s border for the future,” Mr Westaway said.
“After all this is what the PMC was originally set up for.”
He said trials such as the one at Sydney Airport would ultimately get passengers moving more quickly – but still securely.
“As passenger numbers strongly increase, we need to make the pre and post-flight transition as fast and efficient as possible, while upholding world-class safety,” Mr Westaway said.
“This means removing paper incoming passenger cards for international arrivals, fast-tracking more kiosks and introducing all fliers to the exciting future of biometric screening.”
Ms Spencer said that “by the end of the decade” the ABF aimed for a traveller experience that allowed people to manage their own journey through the use of biometrics, digital forms and self screening.
“Passengers will be able to complete their Australia Traveller Declaration and provide their biometric credentials ahead of the border, skip the kiosk and go straight to the smartgate,” she said.
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Originally published as Border Force trials passport-less clearance to bring airports in line with Changi and Dubai
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