The system, currently under trial, is a central piece of the airports digital strategy and combines passengers’ flight, passport, and facial biometric information in a single electronic record at the self-check-in kiosk or mobile app.

Subsequently, only the passenger’s face is required for verification at the self-service bag-drop, automated security gate, and the automated boarding gate, making the experience fast and seamless. Knowledge of exactly where the passengers are in their journey at the airport will also aim to help further improve the renowned on-time at HIA.

The successful completion of the first major phase of HIA’s Smart Airport programme has proven to be extremely popular, with up to 40 percent of the home carrier Qatar Airways’ passengers preferring to self-check-in; and a further 20 percent opting for self-bag-drop.

The swift process vastly improves customer experience and allows more passengers to be managed without physical expansion of the check-in facilities.