Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Digi Yatra, a revolutionary facial recognition technology used for check-ins at airports, has the potential to be extended to international passengers, according to Sumesh Patel, president of Asia-Pacific at SITA. This expansion aims to streamline and optimize travel processes throughout India, enhancing passenger convenience. SITA, a European IT and telecommunications provider to the aviation sector, secured a contract in December of the previous year to implement Digi Yatra across 40 airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The Digi Yatra initiative was officially launched by former Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in December 2022. This technology marks a significant step in modernizing the passenger experience by utilizing advanced facial recognition to simplify airport procedures. The initiative reflects the current government’s commitment to integrating more digital technology into airport operations.
According to Patel, the focus of digitization efforts at Indian airports should not stop at check-ins. He advocates for the introduction of additional biometric touchpoints throughout the airport environment, including immigration, duty-free shops, and lounges. Such enhancements are expected to further improve efficiency and security for travelers navigating through airport facilities.
In related developments, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme .
