A group of five aviation and technology entities is urging European legislators to establish a clearer set of rules for the use of biometrics in air travel. The Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition brings together ACI Europe, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SITA, Amadeus and Idemia Public Security, which Amadeus is currently acquiring.
The alliance is requesting that regulators incorporate biometric applications into the EU’s Digital Omnibus, a legislative package intended to streamline digital and data regulations. In a published manifesto, the coalition argues that passenger consent should serve as a lawful basis for optional biometric processing under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Regulatory Framework
According to the coalition, recent readings of GDPR principles such as necessity, data minimisation and proportionality impose overly tight limits. It promotes a technology-agnostic stance and backs the use of supervised trials via pilot schemes and regulatory sandboxes.
The manifesto stresses that involvement must be voluntary and reversible, offering non-biometric alternatives for individuals who decline. The coalition seeks a balanced regulatory model that safeguards traveller choice while enabling citizens to reap the benefits that biometric solutions can provide.
Industry Support
Heather Dahl, chief executive of the decentralized-identity firm Indicio, concurred with the coalition’s assessment that existing European regulations may hinder digital-identity projects. Dahl noted that the technology sector has evolved considerably since the GDPR was drafted, giving rise to innovations that do not neatly fit older rulebooks.
Dahl explained that each initiative must demonstrate, on a nation-by-nation basis, that no less intrusive method can achieve the same results as biometrics, meaning that the 27 EU member states could reach divergent conclusions on an identical design. This lack of uniformity, she said, makes it challenging for airports and airlines to commit capital to technologies that could enhance passenger journeys.
Impact on European Aviation
Fernando Cuesta, senior vice-president for global industry affairs at Amadeus, appealed to EU policymakers to adopt an evidence-driven stance on biometric travel. Cuesta asserted that individuals must retain control over their data, with safety, security, transparency and accountability embedded in system architecture.
He added that biometrics are already employed at scale in public-sector settings and can substantially aid in handling growing passenger numbers, bolstering security, and delivering a frictionless experience throughout Europe’s aviation network.
According to Pedro Alves, senior vice-president for borders at SITA, the competitiveness of European airports also hinges on this issue. Alves warned that airports outside the EU are already leveraging the technology to streamline and accelerate travel, and that EU hubs risk falling behind if they cannot match those capabilities.
Alves noted that travellers may bypass airports where they anticipate long queues, a pattern SITA is already observing. The coalition’s manifesto references the IATA 2025 Global Passenger Survey, which found that passengers prefer using biometrics instead of passports and boarding passes, provided they have sufficient assurance about the security of their personal data.
Biometrics and Digital Identity
Digital-identity programmes are progressing worldwide, with governments building wallets and similar tools that let citizens store and share verified credentials. Within the EU, member states must make a European Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet available to residents by the close of 2026.
Digital travel credentials (DTCs) transform verified details from government-issued travel documents into digital form, allowing them to be kept and exchanged via digital wallets and paired with biometric checks. Alves explained that DTCs enable travellers to retain identity data, including the facial image from an official document, on their own devices rather than requiring airlines or airports to retain it permanently.
The EU’s Digital Omnibus continues its passage through the legislative process as lawmakers review the suggested amendments. The coalition maintains that overly restrictive treatment of biometric data could also hamper wider digital-identity initiatives.