International Air Transport Association (IATA) says the airline industry is ready for contactless international travel following a series of digital identity trials conducted across Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The proof-of-concept trials tested how passengers could use biometric verification and digital identity credentials stored in mobile wallets to move through airports without repeatedly presenting passports or boarding passes.

According to IATA, the trials showed that contactless travel using digital identity is “already achievable”, with systems successfully operating across multiple airlines, airports and digital identity providers.

Participating carriers included Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand and IndiGo, alongside airport operators, technology providers and government agencies.

The demonstrations also tested interoperability between global mobile wallet platforms such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, as well as national digital identity programmes including Digi Yatra.

JAL and Haneda demonstrate biometric transfers

One of the trials involved Japan Airlines and Tokyo International Air Terminal (TIAT), which manages Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3, under IATA’s Data & Technology Proof of Concepts programme to demonstrate what it calls a next-generation “digital identity” travel experience.

The test journey ran from Haneda Airport to London via Hong Kong and was described as the world’s first transfer demonstration using digital identity, showcasing interoperability across international transit points rather than just within a single airport ecosystem.

Passengers were able to complete boarding and transfer procedures using facial recognition alone, based on digital certificates containing passport and boarding information stored in mobile wallets.