Biometrics

European aviation is at a turning point. Passenger demand has reached unprecedented levels, with European airports welcoming an additional 100 million passengers in 2025. ACI World’s World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2025–2054 predict that global passenger traffic demand will more than double by the mid-2040s.

Yet, airports face structural capacity and staffing constraints – whilst the expansion of terminals, if allowed, takes years and billions in investment. Europe contains half of the world’s most congested airports. At the same time, travellers expect faster, smoother, and less stressful journeys.

Biometric technology offers a secure, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)-compliant, and scalable solution for constrained airport terminals that is already transforming airports around the world. It enables passengers to move seamlessly through check-in, bag drop, security, boarding and other services – using  their face or fingerprint as their boarding pass.

The technology works, and is safe, secure, and compliant, however in Europe it faces important obstacles on the legal front. What Europe needs now is regulatory clarity and approval to ensure that innovation can flourish – for the sake of both airports and passengers. 

This page answers the most common questions about airport biometrics, explains how they work, and addresses concerns transparently. 

Our position is clear: biometric innovation is secure and ready. Europe must lead, not fall behind. European policymakers must provide regulatory clarity on biometric innovation. 

Do you have questions about biometrics? Discover our Q&A below:

• What are biometrics in airports?

  Biometrics in airports use unique physical characteristics, typically facial recognition, to verify a passenger’s identity. Instead of repeatedly showing a boarding pass, a passenger’s identify can be verified through a safe and secure match between their live facial image and their identity document provided beforehand. Once verified, that biometric ‘token’ allows for seamless movement through different airport touchpoints. 

  The use of biometrics in airports is different than the use of biometrics for border control purposes, where passengers are required to provide national authorities with their biometric data in order to securely cross the border.

• How do airport biometric systems work?

  Generally, most airport biometric systems follow this process: 

  1. A passenger opts in voluntarily.
  2. Their passport and boarding pass are digitally linked. 
  3. A facial image is captured and converted into an encrypted biometric template. 
  4. At key touchpoints – such as bag-drop, security, or boarding – a live facial scan is matched to the securely stored template. 
  5. If the match is confirmed, access is granted automatically. 

   
  By reducing the tedious task of manually processing documents, passengers are processed faster and queue for less time; and airport staff receive technological support to ensure passengers are who they claim they are.

• What is ACI EUROPE’s position on biometrics?

  ACI EUROPE believes biometric innovation that protects privacy and improves the passenger journey should be enabled, not blocked by regulatory uncertainty.

  Biometric systems: 

  • Protect privacy
  • Fully comply with the GDPR
  • Improve passenger experience
  • Enhance security
  • Strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness

  
  ACI EUROPE calls on European policymakers to provide European-wide regulatory certainty on biometrics and their use in airports, so that operators can invest in biometric projects without the fear of national authorities inconsistently defining requirements.

  Biometrics are technologically ready, safe, secure, and already used by passengers worldwide. All Europe needs is the regulatory clarity to unlock this innovation. 

• Why do airports need biometrics?

  European airports face structural pressures on their capacity:

  • Demand for travel is increasing
  • Infrastructure expansion, if allowed, takes years and major investment
  • Staffing constraints persist
  • Security requirements remain high
    
    

  Biometrics are currently the only scalable solution for constrained airport terminals that can:

  • Reduce queues
  • Improve passenger flow predictability
  • Increase processing capacity without building new terminals
  • Enhance security whilst improving passenger experience
    
    

  Without immediate and easy-to-implement innovation, congestion and delays will increase.

• Are airport biometrics secure?

  Yes! Biometrics are proven, robust, and carry strong safeguards in full compliance with the GDPR – including data minimisation, purpose limitation, strict retention limits and robust consent mechanisms. The only thing missing is approval. 

  Biometric systems used in airports operate within a highly regulated security environment, making them amongst the most secure digital identity applications available. 

• Are biometrics fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?

  Yes – biometric systems can be fully compliant with the GDPR.

  Airport biometric programmes typically rely on:

  • Explicit passenger consent (opt-in only) with the possibility to opt-out at any time during their journey
  • Clear information and transparency
  • Limited data retention where data is not stored solely on passengers’ personal devices
  • Defined purposes
  • Strong technical and organisational safeguards

  
  Biometric systems are designed around GDPR principles and requirements from the outset.
  
  However, one of the main stalls for biometric innovation in Europe is that interpretations of the GDPR vary across Member States, with highly inconsistent applications by national authorities. This generates significant uncertainty for airports forcing them to pause or abandon projects – despite the technology being secure and compliant.

  What Europe needs is consistent regulatory interpretation across Member States to avoid uncertainty that slows innovation.

• Do airports store my biometric data permanently?

  No – in most airport implementations (where biometric data is not only stored on passengers’ personal devices) biometric data is stored only for the duration of the passenger’s journey, in line with GDPR requirements. The data is automatically deleted after the flight departs, and no permanent database exists or is used commercially. 

  Passengers are always given the possibility to opt-out at any time of their journey, and request that their biometric data be deleted.

• Are airport biometrics a form of surveillance?

  No – airport biometric systems used for passenger facilitation are voluntary, purpose-limited, time-bound, and transparently used with passengers fully informed on their use. Their sole purpose is to make the passenger journey smoother and more secure.

• Why aren’t biometrics already being used in Europe?

  The only issue for biometric innovation in Europe is approval. The systems are safe, secure, and ready – but a lack of regulatory uncertainty means airports are often forced to delay or abandon investment.
  
  Airports are ready to improve passenger experience, enhance security and unlock more airport capacity – if Europe’s policymakers offer needed certainty. Airports are ready to work alongside national authorities to achieve this. 

• Can I refuse to use biometric systems?

  Yes, always – they are opt-in, voluntary systems. Passengers who prefer traditional, manual document checks may continue to use them. Passengers can also decide for which touchpoints they would like to use biometrics for, and for which they prefer manual processes. 

  Biometrics offer passengers an alternative quicker, less stressful, and less crowded experience, expanding passenger choice – not removing it. 

• Are biometrics more secure than manual checks?

  Biometric identity verification can significantly reduce human error, identity fraud, boarding pass misuse and impersonation risks.
  
  Biometric systems provide a consistent, high-accuracy identity verification method that complements existing aviation security standards. Biometrics strengthen security inherently; they are an additional tool to support human-made checks. 

• Are other regions of the world already using airport biometrics?

  Yes, and successfully. Airports across Asia, the Middle East and North America have deployed biometric systems at scale. These regions are benefitting from:

  • Faster passenger throughput
  • Reduced congestion
  • Improved operational efficiency
  • Enhanced passenger satisfaction

  
  If Europe does not provide regulatory clarity, it risks falling behind global aviation hubs in both innovation and competitiveness.