Air Canada, the largest airline in the country, is set to become the first Canadian carrier to implement facial recognition technology, aiming to simplify the boarding process. Starting Tuesday, passengers on most domestic flights at Vancouver International Airport will be able to enter the aircraft without showing any physical identification documents, such as passports or driver’s licenses.
The airline has launched a voluntary program where customers can upload a facial photo and passport scan through its app. This digital ID option was initially introduced as a pilot project in February 2023 and is currently accessible at the company’s Maple Leaf lounges in Toronto, Calgary, and San Francisco. Air Canada intends to introduce the technology at other Canadian airport gates soon.
Compared to carriers in other countries, Canadian airlines have been hesitant to adopt biometric processes. For instance, facial recognition technology is already in use by numerous American airlines, overseas airports, and government security agencies. From 2021, certain Delta Air Lines passengers at airports in Atlanta and Detroit have been able to check their bags, clear security, and board their flights by simply smiling. The airline extended this technology to Los Angeles and New York City the following year.
In 2023, Frankfurt Airport in Germany began allowing all airlines to use facial biometrics from check-in to boarding, eliminating the need for physical ID. However, as the technology becomes more widely adopted, it has raised concerns about privacy and ethics.
The software, which analyzes the unique physical identifiers of a traveler’s face, has prompted questions about data privacy and control, system training, and the implications of software failure. John Gradek, who teaches at McGill University’s aviation management program, highlighted concerns about data management and the potential for job losses due to the technology.
Air Canada has assured that its passengers’ personal information is encrypted when sent and processed and is only used for digital ID purposes. The carrier also confirmed that this information is removed from its systems 36 hours after departure. The airline insisted that privacy considerations have been prioritized during the development of this technology.
