Air Canada is set to introduce the use of new facial recognition technology at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
With this move, it will become the first Canadian airline to allow passengers to verify their identities using only facial recognition without the need for physical ID – a process much like unlocking a smartphone or securing an online transaction.
In a press release published on November 28, 2024, the carrier announced that it will begin using a new Digital Identification program for the boarding of nearly all its domestic flights at YVR Airport, starting from December 3, 2024.
“Digital identification is readily used to streamline numerous daily activities including unlocking phones and entering workplaces, and bringing this technology to the gate enhances the travel experience,” said Tom Stevens, Vice President of Canadian Airports and Customer Experience Strategy at Air Canada. “The feedback from customers, notably our frequent flyers, during the pilot phase was very positive.”
As explained on the airline’s official website, the digital ID technology measures each passenger’s face and assigns them a numeric code known as a faceprint. This faceprint is then used to confirm a person’s identity. The airline offers this digital identification technology via a mobile app.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, currently there are 238 airports across the US using Biometric Facial Comparison Technology, which deploys software to analyze and compare facial features to verify a person’s identity. However, as this type of software becomes more common, it has sparked concerns about its confidentiality.
“In terms of privacy, that consideration has been at the forefront of the development of this technology and something that is very important to Air Canada,” the airline’s spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick told CTV News.
The digital ID option is currently available at Maple Leaf Lounges, along with the Air Canada Cafe in Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The airline also stated that it will soon be available at additional Canadian airports.