Lufthansa and Swiss passengers on selected flights through Frankfurt and Munch airports will be able to pass through both security and the boarding gate using touchless biometric technology from this month.
The airlines are the first to use Star Alliance’s new biometrics platform and users can sign up through their airline apps by taking a selfie, verifying their identity with their passport, and opting in to the airlines and airports where they want to use the service.
In keeping with the requirement to wear masks in the airport terminal, passengers will not be required to remove their masks for the biometric identity check.
The service is open to members of the Miles & More Frequent Flyer programme.
Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance stated: “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.”
Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, board member at airport owner Fraport, said: “Optimising travel processes for passengers is our top priority at Frankfurt Airport, and biometric processes offer our customers numerous advantages. Star Alliance Biometrics now creates a more efficient and - especially important in today's times - touchless passenger journey, which offers greater security as well as more comfort and less waiting time.
“We are proud to be one of the first airports worldwide to offer this pioneering technology for boarding pass control and individual gates in Terminal 1 - Area A, together with our most important customers Star Alliance and Lufthansa. In the coming weeks and months we will gradually expand the range - also to new process points such as baggage drop-off.”
Read BTN Europe editor-in-chief Andy Hoskins' article on touchless travel in the Nov/Dec 2020 edition of the magazine