Gemalto Pilots Biometric Boarding at Los Angeles International Airport

Gemalto announced a joint pilot with an airline to bring additional convenience and security to the traveler’s experience via biometric boarding in Terminal 4 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The test will confirm that passenger needs and expectations are met through the use of facial recognition versus a traditional boarding pass as well as satisfying Customs and Border Protection U.S. Exit requirements.

The world of travel is changing rapidly, and with air traffic expected to double and reach 7.8 billion passengers by 2036, airlines and airports are innovating to meet new government and consumer demands for enhanced security and efficiency. Gemalto will satisfy these needs together with biometric boarding using facial recognition.


“Being able to use your face instead of your boarding pass will not only enhance security but allow passengers to board more easily and quickly,” said Neville Pattinson, SVP of government programs, Gemalto. “The passenger process is changing globally and we are pleased to be on the leading edge of this change by enabling our partners to offer improved service and security with our biometric capabilities.”

The pilot program at LAX is uniquely flexible with regards to space limitations and future options as the solution will be integrated into the existing agent podium to facilitate boarding. Passengers will approach the gate and receive confirmation via a computer screen and camera following a facial verification from Customs and Border Protection’s Traveler Verification Services. Once verified, the captured images will be wiped from the system to ensure privacy for all passengers. 

At a recent Department of Homeland Security biometric testing rally, Gemalto’s Live Face Identification System (LFIS) achieved a 99.44% successful acquisition rate in less five seconds, comparing very favorably to the average of only 65% over the same period amongst the other vendors present.