ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA have formed the Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition to press EU policymakers to ensure the upcoming Digital Omnibus supports voluntary, secure biometric journeys in European travel. The group wants technology-neutral rules that preserve passenger choice, privacy and non-biometric alternatives, while giving airlines and airports clearer legal ground for biometric identity and boarding processes.
Announced in Courbevoie, France on 1 October, the coalition argues that the Digital Omnibus should simplify Europe’s digital rulebook without creating unintended limits on biometric processing. Its position is that biometric use should remain voluntary, tied to a defined journey and available only with appropriate safeguards, including the ability for passengers to request deletion of their data.
The coalition has also published a manifesto, Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe, to set out its policy line and seek clearer rules for biometric deployment in travel. The aviation sector sees the issue as commercially significant because airport identity and boarding systems can affect passenger flow, terminal capacity and the pace of digital travel automation across Europe.