Frankfurt Airport has become the inaugural European airport to provide passengers with contactless check-in and boarding services.
Frankfurt Airport has achieved the distinction of being the pioneer European airport to offer a fully contactless travel experience for all passengers, employing facial biometrics for identification purposes throughout the journey, starting from check-in and extending to the boarding process.
The implementation of this technology is a collaborative effort between SITA, a prominent player in air transport communications and information technology, and Fraport, allowing all airlines operating at Frankfurt Airport to adopt this advanced solution collectively.
Passengers can register in advance on their phone via the Star Alliance biometric app or in person at the checkpoints, with their biometric-enabled passports by using SITA’s Smart Path biometric technology. After completing the registration process, they can pass the facial recognition checkpoints without presenting any physical documents.
We are the first European airport to offer all passengers a contactless and convenient passenger journey using biometrics. Our goal for the coming months is to equip at least 50 per cent of all check-in kiosks, pre-security and boarding gates with the new and pioneering technology.
Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Fraport AG’s Executive Director of Aviation and Infrastructure
According to David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, this technology will expedite the required steps at the airport, allowing passengers to spend more time relaxing rather than standing in line.
We know from our research that where biometrics are introduced, more than 75 per cent of passengers will gladly use them. Therefore, we are pleased to bring the benefits of a faster airport journey to Frankfurt Airport.
David Lavorel, CEO of SITA
As mentioned in the announcement, more than 12,000 passengers are currently utilizing this technology at check-in, boarding pass control, and boarding gates.
In September 2023, Fraport introduced the world's first walk-through scanner for passengers with the aim of enhancing the efficiency and convenience of security checks while maintaining the same high-security standards. The technology will undergo testing for up to six months, allowing the airport and Rohde & Schwarz to gather the necessary insights for potential improvements to the system.
Fraport (FRA) stands as one of the busiest airports in Europe. In September 2023, around 5.8 million passengers traveled through this airport, marking an 18.2% growth compared to September 2022.
This winter, Frankfurt Airport will provide flights to 242 destinations in 94 countries worldwide through 82 airlines. The available weekly seat capacity will be approximately 690,000, representing a 17% increase compared to the previous winter.