JAL Group Expands Biometric e-check-in Demonstration Tests to International Level

The JAL Group will test a biometric "e-check-in" system, part of the "e-Airport Project" concept of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, (MLIT) at Incheon International Airport, Seoul, Korea, from January 8, 2004.

This is the first time in the world in which an airline will carry out biometric demonstration tests linking an airline passenger system between two countries.

The JAL Group has been taking part in a MLIT program for testing the airport use of biometrics since the program started and tested the system at Narita International Airport from January 2003.

Up to now these tests have been limited to Japan, however the program is being expanded to an international level with the cooperation of Narita Airport Authority (NAA), NTT Data Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. on the Japan side and Incheon International Airport Authority and KDNSmartec, a leading biometrics provider, on the Korean side.

The framework of these tests is being expanded in order to verify the international operational capacity of the system, using technology incorporating International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard specifications.

So that non-Japanese customers as well as Japanese customers can be included in the program, the "e-check-in" system will be accessible in four languages (Japanese, Korean, Chinese and English).

JAL will be carrying out the tests from January 8 2004 through June 30 2004. About 5,000 travelers- members of the JAL Global Club and the JAL Mileage Bank, who volunteer to cooperate - will participate in the tests.

The system uses facial recognition for the check in process and confirms the passenger identity by checking the iris of the passenger's eye using a harmless infrared beam.

Usually, an airline check-in agent needs to check the passenger's passport and appearance to see if they match. With the e-check-in tests, participants have their facial and iris details recorded in an IC card, which they insert in iris checking machines at security gates and boarding gates.

 At peak time for departure, passengers often have to wait lengthy periods for security checks. The use of biometrics is expected to help speed up the process.