No check-ins, boarding passes? Air travel set for major overhaul

Air travel could be on the verge of a significant transformation, as global aviation authorities reportedly prepare to phase out traditional check-ins and boarding passes. According to media reports, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)—a United Nations body that oversees international airline standards—is backing the introduction of a new “digital travel credential” to streamline airport processes.

As per reports, this new system will allow passengers to upload their passport information directly to their mobile devices, effectively replacing physical documents and check-in procedures. Travellers would then move through airports seamlessly, aided by facial recognition technology that confirms identity and alerts airlines when passengers arrive.

The overhaul is expected to involve the rollout of a “journey pass”, which would be downloaded to a passenger’s phone and automatically updated with changes to flight bookings, such as delays or gate changes. The system will reportedly include notifications for connecting flight disruptions and push alerts for new details in real time.

Depending on the type of luggage being carried, passengers may go through security at bag drop counters (for checked luggage) or at pre-security gates (for hand luggage only). Facial recognition checkpoints will reportedly handle identity verification at these touchpoints.

The new system will require significant upgrades to airport infrastructure across the globe. As per reports, this includes the installation of facial recognition equipment and technology capable of reading biometric data from mobile devices. Airport officials are said to be weighing the challenges of implementing such a wide-scale upgrade, especially given the complexity of global air travel and the need to coordinate with numerous systems related to flight schedules, baggage handling, and security protocols.

To address privacy concerns, it has reportedly been proposed that personal data will be automatically deleted from the system within 15 seconds of contact at each touchpoint, such as a security gate or boarding area. In future iterations, passengers may also be given the option to share their live location with airlines—enabling services like turn-by-turn directions to the gate, updates about lounge access, or even in-flight upgrade offers.

Airline partners, such as car hire companies, could also receive live updates about passenger delays, helping to improve coordination and reduce travel disruptions. Integration with luggage tracking is also said to be part of the roadmap for this overhaul.

While the rollout timeline is not yet confirmed, the proposed changes are reportedly being explored as part of a broader effort to modernise global air travel systems that, in many cases, have remained unchanged for decades.