BOOKING FLIGHT? ID SUCH AS AADHAAR TO BE A MUST
The government proposes to make it mandatory for Indian air travellers to provide a unique identification (UID) like Aadhaar, passport or PAN card at the time of booking tickets, civil aviation minister Jayant Sinha said, while announcing the launch of the digital travel experience initiative - Digiyatra - for fliers.““We are trying to see what more we can have as unique ID, so that more people are covered,” he said.
NEW DELHI: Air travellers may soon be required to provide a unique ID like passport, PAN card or Aadhaar when booking air tickets in a move that will help seamless airport travel and might also help identify unruly passengers.
The ministry is looking at the possibility of travellers punching in a unique digital ID when travelling by air, junior aviation minister Jayant Sinha said at a press conference on Thursday.
“(Aviation ministry) is studying proposals and will conduct extensive consultations to ensure comprehensive traveller coverage, convenience, and privacy,” he said.
Within 30 days, a digital working group setup by the ministry would come out with a white paper and subsequently, comments from the stakeholders would be sought before finalising the norms, Sinha said.
New rules may take effect over three-four months.
“We are trying to see what else we can have as unique ID so that more people are covered. A white paper will be given on creating seamless travel, after which comments from public will be sought. Then, we will come to a decision on this.”
Under the initiative, Aadhaar would not be made mandatory but would be an option among other digital identities, the minister said.
“This is a pull experience and not a push experience. Passengers still have the option of carrying a boarding pass if they so wish.”
Sinha said those who provide biometric ID should be able to zip through airports.
The digital push will also serve other purposes also.
It might help identify passengers on a no-fly list that the government has proposed.
The option of linking Aadhaar number to airlines and other ecosystem players at the time of booking will help faster airport entry and automated check-ins.
It will help walk-through security scanners swiftly owing to advanced biometric security solutions and receive relevant information pertaining to facilities, protocols, airline timings, queue lengths at airports etc.,
It will also help reduce crowding and congestion at airports.