New ‘face’ of seamless travel takes off

AirAsia launches latest biometric facial recognition service to improve operations

SENAI: AirAsia has become the first airline in Asia to have a seamless travel experience for its passengers, from check-in to boarding, with the introduction of the latest biometric facial recognition technology.

AirAsia deputy group CEO (digital, transformation, corporate services) Aireen Omar said it was part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to improve its services.

“We have to be ahead of our competitors and we are happy to be able to incorporate the facial recognition system in our operations,” she told reporters during the launch of its Fast Airport Clearance Experience System (FACES) by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed at Senai International Airport yesterday.

Also present at the event were Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd CEO Md Derick Basir.

Aireen said the system allows the airline’s identified enrolled passengers to go past the automated boarding gate and board their flights without having to present any travel documents.

“We are starting with domestic passengers departing from Senai Airport to other airports in the country,” she said.

She said it had invested about RM300,000 for the system at Senai Airport, adding that some 3,000 AirAsia passengers on domestic flights went through the system during a month’s trial in January.

Aireen said the airline hoped to implement the system soon for international-bound passengers departing from Senai to Macau, China and Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Nur Jazlan said the Immigration Department will be monitoring the system at the airport, and if it works well, may extend it to other airports in the country.