SITA blockchain tokens replace cumbersome travel documents, securely store and protect passenger privacy

Barcelona: Air passengers will soon need only a 'single secure token' to travel through airports and borders, eliminating the need to carry multiple travel documents, thanks to a revolutionary new technology. Aviation solutions and technology provider SITA is exploring the potential of emerging 'blockchain' technology to provide passengers with a 'single secure token', demonstrating it at the 2016 Air Transport Summit in Barcelona.

Blockchain technology can use secure biometric authentication during travel, eliminating the need for travel documents and eliminating the need for passengers to share their personal data. SITA's technical research team, SITA Lab, is studying how virtual or digital passports can be used in the form of a secure single token on a mobile phone or wearable device to reduce the complexity, cost and disadvantages of checking documents.

Jim Peters, SITA CTO said:

“Our vision is seamless and secure travel. However, the underlying design of today’s computer systems requires data to be exchanged between various agencies and multiple verification procedures, which reduces the ability of a single global system.”

“Now blockchain technology gives us a new way to use biometrics. It can be used across borders and at airports without having to store passenger information by various agencies.”

SITA's research team is investigating a versatile and secure system to enable this single travel token to be used globally. Blockchain technology allows for privacy by design, so passenger data is secure, encrypted, tamper-proof, and cannot be used for other purposes. There is no need for a single authority to manage, process and store passenger data. Blockchain's cryptographic computing science provides a trust network on which everyone can verify the origin and history of the data.

Peters continued:

“This is a completely new way of working, but ‘blockchain’ is ultimately just a database that records and confirms transactions anonymously. Whether this technology is used for currency or travel, it simply records events, and this record can be shared among all parties. More importantly, once the information is entered into the blockchain, it cannot be changed, and it has privacy and security.”

SITA's Passenger IT Trends Survey also shows that airline passengers around the world who adopt this technology are more willing to use it as a service. Notably, when passengers have more choice and control over how to manage their travel, they are happier during their travel. The survey found that 93% of passengers had a positive experience when booking online, using their mobile phone or through an agent.

The survey stated:

“Once people’s journey steps shift from human interaction to using self-service technology, few choose to use the old experience again.”

The survey found that most travelers have had bad experiences at security, passport control and baggage claim, which have few self-service technology options.

Francesco Violante, CEO of SITA, said:

“Knowing that passengers prefer to use their own devices and self-service technology when travelling, this will encourage airlines, airports and governments to examine how to improve the experience at security, border control and baggage claim. Blockchain technology is now available and the industry can be confident that it will be welcomed by passengers.”

But not all travelers are the same, so SITA has identified four different traveler profiles - the Careful Planner, the Indulgence-Inducing, the Hyperconnected and the Open Adventurer. Each profile uses the technology in a different way. Research shows that a 'one size fits all' approach risks alienating some travelers. To help illustrate the differences, SITA is also asking travelers to identify their own traveler profile. Violante said:

“It’s clear that passengers love technology. Once they start using kiosks, websites, mobile devices, automatic doors and other technology, they keep using it and won’t go back to the human touch. When airlines and airports are looking to introduce new technology, they should point out that ‘ease of use’ is critical to passengers.”

Other key findings include - Most travelers (55%) use some self-service technology during their travels, but end-to-end self-service travel is not universal. If travelers have a bad experience, 54% of travelers will try a different self-service technology. When traveling using a mobile phone, 54% find the check-in process to be very simple. Travelers also said they would like more mobile service and baggage notifications in the first place. The survey was conducted among 9,000 travelers in 19 countries in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.