KLM to Test Face-Scanning Technology at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport

Dutch airline KLM will begin experimenting with face-scanning technology at its hub at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in an effort to improve security while speeding up the boarding process for busy air travelers.

In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, the airport said the trial would last three months and require participating passengers to register in advance. From there, they will scan their boarding passes, passports and faces at a special kiosk.

"The ultimate aim is to make the boarding process as quick and easy as possible for our passengers," the airline told PlanetBiometrics.com.

According to PlanetBiometrics.com, all passengers' personal data will be used only for the test and will be erased after boarding. What's more, all of the data stored in the registration kiosk will be erased after ten hours to ensure privacy.

KLM's testing comes as trusted-travelers program Clear expands its presence at airports across the U.S. in hopes of accomplishing similar goals.

Similar to facial recognition, Clear relies on fingerprint and iris identification technology to confirm a traveler's identity, allowing them to bypass the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) ID-check line and head straight to the screening line.

Clear recently opened lanes at New York's LaGuardia Airport and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and is currently present at 22 U.S. airports.

Countries like Japan and Australia are also eyeing facial recognition technology as a potential means to not only alleviate headaches at crowded airports but keeping everyone safer.

As for Schiphol Airport, it says the face-scanning technology is part of its plan to become the "leading digital airport" by next year, according to PlanetBiometrics.com.

Source: Travel Pulse