SITA and IDEMIA partner to create global ID ecosystem for air travel

GENEVA, Switzerland - SITA, a global air transport technology company in Geneva, and IDEMIA Public Security, a digital technology and biometrics company in Courbevoie, France, announced a partnership aimed at enhancing interoperability and data security through a digital travel ecosystem. This initiative seeks to establish an open network that allows digital identities to be universally recognized across the travel sector, simplifying global travel and data management for passengers. 

SITA’s digital travel ecosystem will be a decentralized, secure framework that enables digital identities to be verified globally without requiring direct integration among identity issuers and verifiers.

The system, developed with Indicio, follows a privacy-by-design model, allowing travelers to control their personal information and share it only with consent. This approach aims to provide stakeholders with verified digital identities in real-time, enhancing security and interoperability across borders and various travel sectors. IDEMIA's involvement will broaden the ecosystem's reach and contribute to smoother, more secure travel experiences by promoting biometric and digital identity standards.

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IDEMIA will ensure that biometric and digital identity systems work seamlessly across different travel checkpoints. This effort is intended to facilitate faster passenger processing, improved data security, and optimized resources for stakeholders.

“In a world where data privacy concerns are at the forefront, this approach of an interoperable Digital Travel Ecosystem provides a responsible, transparent solution for ensuring how passenger information is shared,” added Tim Ferris, senior vice president of travel and transport at IDEMIA Public Security. “With our shared mission to enhance the passenger experience without compromising security, IDEMIA is proud to partner with SITA. By integrating our technologies around common standards, we can drive global adoption of secured digital capability and biometric authentication, ensuring that passengers’ data remains secure while delivering a streamlined travel experience.”