Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance, has partnered with NEC Corporation, a global leader in biometric technologies, to develop a biometric data-based identification platform. This will allow Star Alliance frequent flyers to use facial recognition technology to seamlessly pass through different stages of air travel like check-in, luggage drop, and boarding. The system is designed to improve customer experience while maintaining privacy, and may be implemented in some Star Alliance hub airports by early 2020.

1. A V I AT I O N
AIRPORT
SECURITY
ADVANCES
The airport experience is fast evolving with a host of
technological innovation. We catch up with the industry
leaders in airport technology, the Japan-based NEC
Corporation, to know more
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A V I AT I O N
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PREVIOUS SPREAD: Facial recognition technology is fast
picking up across all international airports
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Airport experiences are being
revolutionised by NEC-designed techonolgy, from
airport displays to duty free
STAR ALLIANCE PARTNERS
WITH NEC FOR BIOMETRIC
TECHNOLOGY
The aviation industry is changing at a
fast pace, with new advancements and
developments cropping up every other
day. The primary mission for aviation
stakeholders is to create a safer, seamless
and more customer-friendly passenger
experience, by incorporating technology.
These developments are slowly but
steadily being rolled out across not only
international airports but in Indian airports
too. Enhanced security technology, baggage
handling, reimagined boarding gates etc. are
just a few areas where airport experience is
being reinterpreted and improved.
A case in point is the recent collaboration
announcement between NEC Corporation,
the global leader in IT, network and
biometric technologies, and Star Alliance,
the world’s largest airline alliance. Together,
the two players will conceptualise and
develop a biometric data-based identification
platform, specifically directed at Star
Alliance airlines’ frequent flyers. The mission
of this collaboration is to give passengers
a seamless airport experience, while at the
same time improving the loyalty value
proposition. Passengers are likely to see the
first results of this collaboration at a Star
Alliance hub airport by early 2020.
How will it pan out, you ask? Once this
partnership comes into play, Star Alliance
passengers who choose the biometric
option will enjoy a smooth and handsfree
experience. This technology will help them
go through different airport stages with
the help of facial recognition technology.
At the core of this process is an identity
management system that is entirely secured.
What does this mean for a passenger?
Basically, if you are a frequent flyer of one
of the Star Alliance member airlines, you
will need to choose to register on this new
platform to enable and authorise the use
of biometric data. Once this is done, every
time you arrive at or depart from an airport
where NEC Corporation has integrated
this technology, you can use your biometric
data to effortlessly go through different
NEC is pleased to join forces
with Star Alliance to bring an
improved cross terminal customer
experience. Facial recognition
is truly revolutionising the airline
industry and making flying
more enjoyable, just as it was
always intended
stages like check-in desk or kiosks, luggage
drop, lounges, and even at the boarding gate.
However, passengers will be required to
show their passports at certain crucial phases
like immigration and security. The platform
is designed in such a way that the passenger’s
confidential personal data is encrypted and
retained securely, in keeping with privacy
laws and data protection regulations.
For the airline and airport, this could also
mean improved operational efficiency.
Takashi Niino, president and chief
executive officer of NEC Corporation says,
“NEC is pleased to join forces with Star
Alliance to bring an improved cross terminal
customer experience. Facial recognition is
truly revolutionising the airline industry
and making flying more enjoyable, just as
it was always intended. In support of this
partnership, similar to our implementations
in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong
and Japan, NEC will mobilise its global
resources and provide local assistance to
each of the member airlines to leverage this
secure, interoperable platform and rapidly
bring our common vision to reality.”
INCREASED SAFETY AND
SECURITY
While the recent collaboration between
NEC and Star Alliance may be making
news in the aviation circles, the former
has been at the cutting edge of airport and
aviation technology for the past 50 years.
Today, NEC offers solutions ranging from
communications, navigation, surveillance,
air traffic control and airport operations,
which are being incorporated around the
world in different forms. NEC works closely
with airport authorities and civil aviation
ministries to implement these changes and
technologies. There are different solutions
for different operations. For instance, for
air traffic control, NEC has developed
the Transportable Radar Control System
(TRCS) and the Automated Radar
Terminal System (ARTS). Then there is
the Flight Information Display System
(FIDS), which are the screens seen at
different terminals, displaying flight-related
information, ticket counter information as
well as safety signboards. This is in addition
to screens displaying vital information
at airports such as on-ground transport
options, washrooms, emergency and
fire information as well as news and
weather displays.
Another important development
from the NEC is the stand management
system, which is a comprehensive system
to assign stands for each arriving and
departing aircraft, in keeping with the
airport operation schedule. This is an
extremely important phase to ensure the
smooth operation of any airport. The stand
management system operates in real-time
and ensures that bays are assigned to aircraft
in a seamless manner. nec.com/en BTI
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NECCORPORATION