New Legislation to Open Path for Biometrics at Switzerland Airports

A newly proposed amendment to the Aviation Act of Switzerland would permit the application of facial recognition in airports and airlines found inside of the country. The new amendment hopes to take advantage of the capability of biometric facial recognition to streamline passenger handling and boarding procedures.

The proposal is a part of a much broader effort to improve services across the aviation landscape of the country. The consultation period for the proposal shall stay open till the end of November.

Mode of Implementation

Facial recognition as a technology is widely applicable enough that it could be used at whatever stage wanted, from boarding and security, to even check-ins and baggage sections. They can be implemented without the need for any significant changes.

Airport biometrics is a concept slowly being adopted in an increasingly large number of airports in some of the most tech-forward countries in the world. It helps by allowing passengers to bypass having to carry some form of external documentation in both physical and even digital form.

Diversity of Options

A major point to mention is the act that already existing procedures for passengers shall remain for those who want to stay with them. Biometric boarding will only become an additional option for the ease of passengers.

A Successful Trial

The new proposal comes after biometric verification was implemented at Zurich Airport on a trial basis back in 2017, the success of which was the final push to introduce complete adoption cross-country. The airport facial recognition trial was a voluntary option for all people with passports from Switzerland itself or from EU countries.