The International Air Transport Association (IATA) continues to call for the rapid adoption of digital identity technology to increase aviation security and operational efficiency.
Key government and industry stakeholders in aviation security who recently participated in the Sydney Leader Week Conference supported this position and highlighted the need for collaboration in implementing verifiable credentials (VCs) and distributed identifiers (DIDs).
Sydney Leader Week, hosted by Qantas, was attended by industry experts and government representatives from Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
It is widely accepted that digital identity can bring the following benefits to aviation security:
Stronger Document Integrity: Reduce fraud and unauthorized access.
Global Trust: Enables secure, cross-border, interoperable identity verification.
Operational Efficiency: Streamline document validation, enhanced regulatory oversight, and optimized resource allocation for a smoother passenger experience.
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“Global collaboration continues to maintain safety. Employing verifiable credentials and distributed identifier criteria is a natural next step to enhancing security, trust and efficiency. All aviation stakeholders cross geopolitical boundaries.
“This technology is ready and proven. We need to work on taking the momentum of this conference and getting recommendations later this year at this year's ICAO assembly.”
The conference's aviation security leaders also identified key actions for the government to drive digital transformation in the industry.
Integration of Fast Track Technology: VC and DID Technologies are embedded in national and international security frameworks, in line with ICAO Annex 17 and Aircraft Operator Security Program (AOSP).
Prioritizing Aviation Digital Identity Use Cases: Integrate Aviation Digital Identity Solutions into a national digital strategy to enhance global cooperation.
Investing in capacity building: Allocate industry stakeholders with the resources to equip them with the knowledge and infrastructure needed for a seamless implementation.
Increase stakeholder engagement: Promotes recognition of digital identity solutions and industry-wide adoption through targeted education and outreach.
As part of this effort, IATA's one ID initiative will promote global interoperable digital identity standards, allowing passengers to verify travel documents before departure and use bio-awareness to travel through the airport in place of physical documents. One ID works in harmony with ICAO's digital travel credentials, ensuring security and efficiency while maintaining privacy and global regulatory compliance.
IATA is also promoting the framework for aviation security trusts. It views regulatory integrity, cross-sector collaboration and infrastructure as key components to realize the benefits of digital identity in global aviation.
