IATA trials technology to speed passenger border processing

The airline industry is pushing for new technology and initiatives to streamline border processing for passengers, with trials underway at some airports. Airport passenger flow rates will need to increase significantly to cope with forecast growth in air travel, IATA director of airports and fuel Hemant Mistry said Wednesday. This means improving visa processes and making passenger identity checks more efficient through data sharing and other methods. IATA has developed a New Experience Travel Technologies initiative, which also involves the Airports Council International. One goal is to encourage off-airport passenger processing, for example at a downtown check-in site remote from the airport. The program is looking at “how much [passenger] processing could be done before they get to the airport itself,” Mistry said. <br/>