ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA have formed the Responsible Biometrics Travel Industry Coalition, pressing EU policymakers to ensure the Digital Omnibus supports voluntary, secure biometric use in travel while preserving passenger choice and privacy. The group launched alongside its manifesto, Advancing Responsible Biometrics in Europe, and wants rules that allow biometric journeys without excluding non-biometric alternatives.
Issued from Geneva, the 1 October announcement argues that the Digital Omnibus, designed to simplify Europe’s digital rules, could unintentionally constrain the use of biometrics across airports and other travel settings. The coalition wants technology-neutral rules, clearer consent standards and stronger data-protection safeguards so passengers can opt in and request deletion of their data. It also frames the issue as a competitiveness question for European aviation, saying biometrics can speed passenger flow, reduce repeated document checks and make better use of airport infrastructure.
The coalition presents biometrics as a voluntary tool limited to a defined journey, with security and privacy protections built in. Its call to action comes before any final EU text has been published and without a formal response from Brussels, leaving the announcement as an industry push for regulatory clarity rather than a policy outcome.