A new coalition representing major players across Europe’s aviation and travel technology sectors is calling on EU policymakers to ensure proposed digital regulations do not restrict the voluntary use of biometric technology at airports.
The Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition, comprising ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA, has urged the European Union to adopt rules that allow passengers to use biometric identification while maintaining strong safeguards for privacy, cybersecurity and passenger choice.
The coalition’s intervention comes as the EU seeks to simplify its digital regulatory framework through the proposed Digital Omnibus, which is intended to reduce regulatory complexity, support innovation and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.
Industry representatives, however, are concerned that provisions in the proposal could unintentionally limit the use of biometric systems by passengers who choose to adopt them as part of their journey.
The coalition argues that biometric technology could help airports and airlines manage growing passenger volumes by reducing the need for repeated manual document checks. A passenger could, for example, verify their identity through biometric authentication at different points of the airport rather than repeatedly presenting a passport or boarding pass.
For airports facing capacity constraints and increasingly busy terminals, the technology could improve passenger flows, increase processing efficiency and make better use of existing infrastructure. It could also allow frontline staff to concentrate on travellers requiring additional assistance.
The industry group believes these operational benefits could contribute to Europe’s competitiveness by supporting more efficient airports while creating opportunities for European technology companies to develop and scale biometric solutions.
It is therefore calling for technology-neutral provisions in the Digital Omnibus that allow the voluntary use of biometric data where appropriate safeguards are in place, while ensuring passengers retain access to non-biometric alternatives.
Privacy remains central to the coalition’s position. It says biometric journeys should be voluntary, secure and limited to a defined journey, with passengers retaining the ability to choose whether to provide their biometric information and request deletion of their data where applicable.
The coalition cited findings from IATA’s Global Passenger Survey showing that 74% of travellers surveyed were willing to use biometric data instead of repeatedly presenting a passport or boarding pass.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE; Fernando Cuesta, Senior Vice President, Industry Affairs Global Development at Amadeus; Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at IATA; Lisa Shoemaker, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations at IDEMIA Public Security; and Pedro Alves, Senior Vice President, Borders at SITA, are representing the coalition.
In its “Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe” manifesto, the group calls for closer dialogue between governments and the travel industry on how biometric technology should be deployed. It argues that clearer rules could help Europe respond to rising passenger numbers and limited airport capacity while maintaining existing standards for data protection and fundamental rights.
The coalition also wants greater legal certainty around biometric data to encourage responsible investment and innovation in the sector.
For airlines and airports, the debate comes as biometric processing increasingly becomes part of efforts to create faster and more integrated passenger journeys. The coalition’s central argument is that regulation should enable passengers who want to use the technology to do so, without making biometric identification compulsory.
As EU policymakers consider the Digital Omnibus, the travel industry is therefore pushing for a framework that balances technological innovation and operational efficiency with privacy, security and the right of passengers to choose how they travel.
