DigiYatra is a digital initiative in India that aims to revolutionize airport check-ins using a mobile app that allows passengers to use facial recognition as a boarding pass. Launched on December 1, 2022, at three airports, the program has now expanded to 14 airports across India and is set to launch in another 14 next month. The next frontier for DigiYatra is international travel, with plans to integrate chip-enabled e-passports into the app to enable verifiable credentials for foreign travelers. The DigiYatra Foundation is also looking to align with IATA’s One-ID initiative for global interoperability to streamline passenger journeys through biometric-enabled identification.
The CEO of DigiYatra Foundation, Suresh Khadakbhavi, announced that they expect to start prototype testing on e-passport based enrollment for international travel next month. The prototype testing will progress significantly in the coming months, but collaboration with the Bureau of Immigration and the Ministry of External Affairs will be required, indicating a potentially lengthy process. Despite the challenges, DigiYatra’s vision extends beyond airports to facilitate hotel check-ins and provide hassle-free access to public places. With over 20 million users experiencing DigiYatra in the past year and forthcoming availability at 28 airports covering 90% of India’s flying population, the service aims to provide passengers with a seamless travel experience.
Travelers prioritize speed and convenience, according to IATA’s 2023 Global Passenger Survey, and are increasingly embracing biometrics for seamless journeys. Countries like Croatia, the Netherlands, Canada, and Finland have also been testing digital travel initiatives. With DigiYatra’s emphasis on self-sovereign identity and the use of face as a single token, passengers can easily walk through every process, giving them an experience of a “walk in the park.” However, educating passengers about privacy and security concerns remains a challenge for DigiYatra, especially in the context of self-sovereign identity and data protection.
To address these concerns, DigiYatra plans to implement fully homomorphic encryption, a feature that ensures third parties cannot misuse data shared with airports. The system’s growing adoption rate at major airports, ranging from 30-50%, indicates its potential for success in streamlining passenger journeys. In the next decade, DigiYatra envisions a single-process airport where passengers can walk straight to the boarding gate with all processes handled seamlessly in the background with the use of technology. Overall, DigiYatra is working towards making international travel a smoother and more efficient experience by leveraging innovative digital solutions and collaborations with global initiatives like IATA’s One-ID.
