HIA Launches Fast Pass Service for Travelers Using Facial Recognition Technology

Doha, July 06 (QNA) - Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Qatar Airways have jointly launched the "Fast Pass" service, where this new biometric service has been implemented, aiming to facilitate the departure experience and reduce the usual paper-based procedures during travel, in cooperation with technology company "SITA".

A statement from Hamad International Airport indicated that the "Fast Pass" service enables passengers, through facial recognition technology, to pass through key airport checkpoints with the minimum possible number of paper travel document checks.

It noted that this initiative is one of the largest implementations of this service for verifying passenger identity through the use of biometric technology in the Middle East and globally, as it connects more than 700 touchpoints into a single biometric journey characterized by reliability and providing passengers with the highest standards of security and data protection at every step they take in their journey through the airport.

It stated that registration for the "Fast Pass" service is available through self-service check-in kiosks at the airport, as well as through the Qatar Airways mobile application.

Once registered, passengers can pass through designated biometric-enabled points such as check-in, baggage drop, security screening, and boarding gates using facial biometric identification, as the activation process takes only a few seconds, eliminating repeated paper document checks and reducing waiting times, especially during peak seasons.

It explained that this service remains optional, as passengers can still complete their travel procedures through traditional methods relying on passports and boarding passes with the assistance of airport staff.

This comes as demand for biometric travel is increasing globally, where the majority of passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), prefer identity verification through biometric data rather than paper documents.

  It is noted that the launch of the "Fast Pass" service is part of Hamad International Airport's efforts to enhance innovation and keep pace with this global trend, while providing its passengers with a more efficient way to move throughout the airport.

This major expansion in the implementation of the "Fast Pass" service reflects the airport's commitment to enhancing the paperless travel experience.

The airport will continue implementing the service by adding more touchpoints and strengthening its cooperation with technology partners to support the overall travel experience, with the possibility in the near future of offering this service to interested airlines operating at Hamad International Airport. (QNA)