Japan Airlines (TYO:9201) plans to introduce facial recognition boarding for international flights by fiscal 2035, removing the need for tickets and most document checks, Nikkei reported Thursday.
A recent trial on a Tokyo-Hong Kong-London route used biometrics for check-in, security, lounges and boarding, with only border controls requiring passports. Passengers register via an app by linking passport data and a facial image before arrival, unlike the airline's current system, which requires airport kiosks, according to the report.
The setup combines passport and biometric data to strengthen identity checks and will extend to partner airline transfers, the report said.
The push reflects rising passenger volumes and pressure on airport capacity. Japan Airlines aims to roll out the system within its long-term plan and expand adoption across airports and airlines, subject to regulatory approval, according to the report.
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