Towards identification technology

The pandemic suited him like a glove. But we are not talking about the presidency of Mexico, but about the global traveler identification system, which for years has wanted to move towards biometric data technology, passing through the possibility that machines are the ones that “dialogue” with smartphones of air passengers so that the procedures are much more agile, the security of personal identification much higher and that it is possible to verify the health status of each traveler in record time.

For example, in the case of Mexican airports, it is very evident that during peak hours, immigration officials are overwhelmed by the number of people arriving from flights originating abroad. This creates bottlenecks in the arrival rooms, to the point that one wonders if the HEPA filters of the plane will not be a too punctilious sophistication if when arriving on the ground we can be crowded for almost an hour making endless lines.

For this reason, the truth is that the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) and the National Migration Institute (INM) were right with the decision to introduce, as a first step, virtual kiosks for Mexican, American and Canadian travelers who arrive at the main airports in the country, can do their paperwork directly and virtually, which will significantly speed up this process and help decongest migration areas.

Recently there was a meeting where all the Airport Groups, Airports and Auxiliary Services, the International Airport of Mexico City and directors of the INM and the SICT, as well as the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) participated, where this agreement was made which undoubtedly marks a milestone in the way this work has been done in our country.

As is known, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has done a great job to pressure governments to adopt these types of instruments, because it also helps to give certainty to travelers, airlines and governments themselves around security at airports, both in the sense of operation and health.

In addition, it allows the various authorities in a country and with their counterparts abroad to adopt tools that facilitate their work, with greater certainty than the current review of passports, boarding passes and QR codes for PCR tests or antigens and vaccines. . The idea of ​​having a single application so that all the information is available will allow the systems to be modernized and that in the future the biometric data contain all of this, which will make the identification of people, travel itineraries, immigration status much simpler. , health and others.

Obviously, a lot of work still has to be done on this type of system, guaranteeing that passenger data is protected and as confidential as the person wants, but at the same time guaranteeing mobility. IATA has pointed out that the lack of common protocols has been the most lethal in this pandemic and certainly no one wants to re-experience crises that threaten the viability of aviation.

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Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx

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