Travellers boarding Binter Canarias flights will now have the option to undergo security checks using facial recognition technology.
The airline, based in the Canary Islands, has introduced a facial recognition system enabling passengers to navigate security checkpoints at the boarding gate without presenting physical documents. Participation in the service is voluntary and requires users to enrol in the biometric programme via the Binter mobile app.
To participate, users must generate their boarding pass at least once through the mobile app or Binter website and consent to joining the biometric programme by ticking the relevant box.
Binter announced on 28 February that the facial recognition system is operational at several airports, including Madrid, Gran Canaria, Tenerife North, Palma de Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza.
The airline initiated the pilot project in December, amassing over 1,000 registered customers and conducting over 700 facial recognition checks at Canary Island airports to date.
However, certain passengers are ineligible for the system’s use, including children under 14, travellers with special items like pets, and those whose residency hasn’t been automatically verified. Additionally, passengers with expired documentation cannot utilise the system.
Binter advises passengers to move their mobile phones slowly during the ID chip reading process to ensure the RFID reader captures the chip correctly. Progress is indicated by dots appearing on the screen.
Despite the introduction of facial recognition technology, Binter emphasises that passengers should still carry necessary identification and documents while travelling.
Image taken from Binter official Instagram page