Star Alliance has completed the development of an interoperable biometric identity and identification platform that it says will significantly improve the travel experience for frequent flyer programme customers of its member airlines.
Lufthansa Group (LHG) airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS will be the first to use the biometric platform for selected flights starting in November. Specific infrastructure is being installed at hub airports Frankfurt and Munich.
Members of the Lufthansa and SWISS Miles & More frequent flyer programme who opt-in to use the biometrics verification will be able to pass through both security access and boarding gates in a touchless manner.
The identification process works for passengers wearing masks, ensuring that requirement to wear masks in the airport terminal are met.
The Star Alliance Biometrics service is built upon NEC Corporation’s NEC I:Delight biometric and identity management platform software. The secure service is available at no cost to customers of the Miles & More programme who have consented to share their biometric data with stakeholders of their choice during travel.
Miles & More customers will have the option to enrol in Star Alliance biometrics, accessed via a link within the Lufthansa app. Customers enrolling are asked to take a selfie, verify their identity with their passport, and opt-in to the airlines and airports where they want to use the service.
They only need to enrol once and can then use their biometrics data multiple times at biometrics touchpoints of any participating airport whenever they travel with a Star Alliance member airline who has implemented Star Alliance Biometrics.
According to Star Alliance, personal data, such as photo and other identification details, are encrypted and safely stored within the platform, in compliance with applicable data protection laws.
Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance, commented: “We are exceedingly proud to have founding member Lufthansa as the first airline to implement the Star Alliance Biometrics solution in both of its Frankfurt and Munich Airport hubs. This is a customer-centric solution that furthers our credentials in innovation, particularly its multi-airline and multi-airport capability. Whilst it offers a seamless customer travel experience, it is also a critical development that addresses the expectation of customers for a more touchless and hygienically safer experience. Star Alliance Biometrics is a key part of our strategy to be the most digitally advanced global airline alliance.”
