A new travel industry coalition is calling on European Union policymakers to protect passengers’ right to voluntarily use biometric travel technologies as the bloc works on its proposed Digital Omnibus. The group, bringing together ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA, is urging the EU to create rules that support secure digital journeys without compromising privacy or forcing travellers to use biometric identification.
The newly formed Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition says the proposed Digital Omnibus should adopt a technology-neutral approach that allows passengers to choose biometric verification where appropriate safeguards are in place. At the same time, travellers should continue to have access to non-biometric alternatives, ensuring that convenience and innovation do not come at the expense of passenger choice.
The issue comes as airports and airlines look to digital identity technologies to manage rising passenger volumes and make airport processes more efficient. The coalition believes biometric verification can reduce repeated document checks, improve passenger flow and help airports make better use of existing infrastructure, particularly during busy travel periods.
Coalition Calls for Clearer EU Rules
The European Commission’s proposed Digital Omnibus is intended to simplify Europe’s digital regulatory framework while supporting innovation and competitiveness. However, the travel organisations involved in the new coalition are concerned that certain provisions could unintentionally restrict the voluntary use of biometrics by passengers.
The coalition is therefore asking EU policymakers to ensure that future legislation provides sufficient legal clarity for airlines, airports and technology providers to develop and deploy biometric solutions responsibly.
A technology-neutral framework, according to the coalition, would allow different technological approaches to evolve without regulations favouring one particular system. It would also create greater certainty for companies investing in digital identity infrastructure across the European travel market.
The group has published its “Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe” manifesto, setting out its position on how biometric technology should be incorporated into the region’s future travel ecosystem.
Privacy and Passenger Choice Remain Central
While promoting wider use of biometric technology, the coalition has stressed that participation should remain voluntary. Passengers should be able to decide whether they want to share their biometric information and should retain the ability to request deletion of their data.
The coalition also argues that biometric use should be restricted to a defined journey and supported by strong safeguards covering privacy, data protection and cybersecurity. This approach is intended to ensure that faster airport processing does not weaken passengers’ fundamental rights.
There is already significant passenger interest in using digital identification during travel. According to research cited by the coalition from the IATA Global Passenger Survey, 74% of travellers surveyed said they would be willing to share biometric data instead of repeatedly presenting a passport or boarding pass.
For airports and airlines, the potential operational advantages are also considerable. Biometric verification can reduce the need for repeated manual document checks, allowing passengers to move more efficiently through airport processes. It can also enable airport employees to devote more attention to travellers who require additional assistance.
The coalition believes these improvements could become increasingly important as passenger numbers grow and airport infrastructure faces capacity constraints. ICAO forecasts global air passenger traffic could reach 12.4 billion passengers annually by 2050, nearly three times the level recorded in 2024.
Industry Seeks Balance Between Innovation and Rights
The coalition includes senior representatives from all five organisations: Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE; Fernando Cuesta, Senior Vice President, Industry Affairs Global Development at Amadeus; Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at IATA; Lisa Shoemaker, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations at IDEMIA Public Security; and Pedro Alves, Senior Vice President, Borders at SITA.
Beyond passenger convenience, the organisations see responsible biometric adoption as part of Europe’s wider digital competitiveness. They argue that clearer rules could encourage continued investment in travel technology and give European companies greater opportunities to develop and scale trusted solutions within the region.
The manifesto also calls for stronger public-private dialogue between technology companies, airlines, airports and policymakers. Such cooperation, the coalition says, will be necessary to ensure that future regulations reflect the practical realities of airport operations while maintaining Europe’s established privacy and fundamental-rights standards.
As Europe considers how its digital regulatory framework should evolve, the debate around biometric travel is increasingly shifting from whether the technology should be used to how it can be introduced responsibly. For the travel industry coalition, the answer lies in a system where biometric journeys can make airport travel faster and more convenient, but where passengers remain firmly in control of their personal data and whether they choose to participate.
The coalition is now urging EU policymakers to incorporate these principles into the Digital Omnibus, arguing that innovation and privacy do not have to be competing priorities. A balanced regulatory framework, it says, could allow Europe to improve the passenger experience while maintaining trust and giving travellers a genuine choice over how they move through the continent’s airports.
