Japan's Narita And Haneda Airports Implement Full-Scale Facial Recognition
JAKARTA - In order to improve service and convenience, as well as the convenience of international travelers, two international airports in Japan, namely Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) and Narita International Airport, have begun implementing a full-scale facial recognition system.
Quoting Kyodo News Monday, July 19, this full-scale application of facial recognition technology, allows international travelers to check-in baggage and pass through security checkpoints without showing a passport or flight ticket.
In the 'Face Express' system which aims to speed up the boarding process and provide a touchless experience for passengers, tourists need to take a photo at check-in when registering for a passport and a boarding pass upon arrival at the airport.
After registering the required data with a dedicated terminal, cameras in check-in baggage, security checkpoint entrances, and departure gates will automatically verify the identity of passengers, allowing them to pass, said Narita International Airport Corp.
"The procedure (for boarding) ended quickly and the gate opened smoothly," said company employee Susumu Hayakawa, 29, before traveling on a Japan Airlines flight to Chicago from Narita Airport near Tokyo.
The system was fully operational after Narita airport began piloting the use of facial recognition in April, when it only involved airport staff and not actual travelers.
It will also reduce physical contact between travelers, machines, and airport and flight staff, helping prevent the spread of viral infections, airport operators said.
Regarding the privacy of passenger data, the airport said passenger data, including facial images, will be deleted within 24 hours after registration to protect privacy.
For now, biometric ID processing is available on some All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines flights at Narita airport, east of Tokyo, and some Japan Airlines flights at Haneda airport in Tokyo.
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In the future, this technology is planned to be developed in stages by involving other airlines in Japan, to improve the airport service system that is safe, comfortable, and fast.