Recent years have seen biometrics play an increasingly important role in commercial aviation, with the use of smart cameras expediting procedures such as check-in and boarding while also ensuring contactless processes. 
Emirates has now become the latest airline to invest in such technology, following its announcement that it has installed more than 200 biometric cameras.
These are located throughout its Terminal 3 home at 
Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates, and the carrier has teamed up with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigner Affairs Dubai (GDRFAD) to make it happen. Emirates says that passengers can register their details on its app, which will allow them to benefit from faster biometric procedures.
A Considerable Investment
According to a corresponding statement released earlier today by the Dubai-based UAE flag carrier, Emirates has invested a grand total of some AED 85 million ($23.1 million) into its new biometrics initiative. Going forward, this, it says, will allow “customers to pass through Check-In, Immigration, Boarding Gates, Lounges and board the aircraft, simply by facial recognition.”
A key benefit of this rollout is that it will save time for both passengers and airport staff, as it will eliminate the need for guests to stop and physically remove their boarding pass for a manual inspection at certain checkpoints. Instead, they will simply be identified by the smart cameras, allowing for smoother procedures. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFAD, said:
“Over the years, we have integrated artificial intelligence and biometric technologies to make travel through Dubai faster, safer, and more intuitive. Our partnership with Emirates continues this path of excellence.”
Passengers Have To Register Via The Emirates App
In order to benefit from the smoother processes and shorter wait times in Dubai, passengers interested in using the biometric checkpoints have to register their details via the Emirates app first. The service is open to members of its Skywards loyalty program who are 18 years of age or older, and it works by scanning their passport into the app to match the details on their profile.
Once this step has been completed, the relevant details are stored in a database managed by the GDRFAD, which is linked to Emirates’ systems at Dubai International Airport. Upon arrival at the Middle Eastern hub, they can then use the biometric cameras to check in to their flight via facial recognition, saving them the need to physically remove their documents for a manual inspection.
Going forward, Emirates also plans to make this service available to passengers connecting at its Dubai hub. After check-in, registered guests can also use the GDRFAD’s biometric Smart Gates to skip immigration queues by stepping in for a photo rather than a passport check. The biometric data will also be used to give passengers quicker access to lounges and when boarding.
High-Tech Cameras
As pictured above, passengers who have registered to pass through Dubai International Airport in an expedited manner using Emirates’ new biometric systems simply have to stand in front of the special cameras to have their details checked. The airline explains that this technology is able to “recognize the biometric profile of a customer” from as much as one meter (3.28 feet) away.
The service is open to both residents of the United Arab Emirates and those visiting the country, as long as, as previously noted, they are both a member of the Emirates Skywards loyalty program and aged 18 years or older. With dedicated zones having now been implemented at Dubai International Airport, this technology offers passengers a clear pathway to faster procedures.
This move marks the latest in an increasingly long line of collaborations between Emirates and the GDRFAD. Indeed, Adel al Redha, who currently serves as the UAE flag carrier’s Deputy President & Chief Operating Officer, explained that the two parties’ work goes back as far as 2017. He added that this collaboration has enabled the airlines “to upgrade our equipment and implement the latest technologies, ensuring that our customers enjoy a world-class, seamless journey.”
