(Posted 27th March 2025)
By Jeremy Springall, Snr Vice President SITA
As I reflect on the past week, I couldn’t help but think about how much travel has changed – and how much better it’s becoming. From digital pre-clearance to biometric verification, digital identity is transforming the travel journey for everyone—making it faster, more secure, and more efficient.
But for the industry to fully unlock its potential, we need to move beyond pilots and
fragmented deployments. At the Sydney Leaders Week Conference, IATA’s call for action
reinforces what we’ve long known: the time to scale digital identity is now.
Here’s why:
1. Security and efficiency don’t have to be trade-offs
For years, airports, airlines and governments have struggled to balance security with a
frictionless travel experience. Too often, one has come at the expense of the other.
Digital identity changes that. By verifying travellers instantly, it strengthens security while keeping passengers moving. Governments can combat fraud more effectively; airports can reduce bottlenecks at critical touchpoints and airlines can drive cost savings through faster turnaround time while being certain passenger data is accurate.
2. Piecemeal solutions won’t get us there
Many in the industry have embraced digital identity in isolated projects but without
interoperability, we risk creating a patchwork of disconnected experiences across different borders, airlines, and airports.
An open, industry-wide approach—where systems work together seamlessly—is the only
way to make digital identity truly scalable and valuable for everyone.
3. Operational improvements at every stage of the journey
The benefits of digital identity extend far beyond the traveller’s convenience. A more
streamlined verification process has a powerful ripple effect across the entire industry.
• Fewer delays at check-in, bag drop, and security
• Reduced congestion at boarding and border control
• More efficient passenger flow, minimizing operational disruptions
For governments, airlines, and airports, this translates to increased throughput, lower costs and an improved travel experience.
4. Passengers are ready—are we?
Passengers already expect a faster, digital-first experience. Our research shows:
• 66% would pay to use biometrics for travel
• 75% are comfortable with using a digital ID on their smartphone
The demand is clear. The question is, will the industry move quickly enough to meet it?
5. Collaboration will determine success
No single entity can make digital identity work alone. Governments, airlines, airports and technology providers must align on a privacy-first framework that prioritises security and transparency.
With many governments already implementing digital IDs for other services, extending this to travel through Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) is a logical next step.
The big picture
The technology is ready. Solutions like SITA Digital Travel ID help governments enhance border security, enable airlines to streamline operations, and allow airports to improve passenger flow—all while reducing costs and inefficiencies.
Now is the time for us to move beyond experimentation and make digital identity the
standard. If we work together, we can build a future where travel is not just faster, but
smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before.
Are we ready to take that step—together?
