American Airlines has begun testing biometric boarding tech at Los Angeles International Airport.
The airline is using technology developed by digital security firm Gemalto at LAX Terminal 4 which takes facial scans that are referenced with existing data held by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
It is designed to ease passenger flows while maintaining overall security.
The test programme will last for three months.
The one-step process matches the facial recognition image with existing travel data in the CBP system.
Travellers may opt out of the pilot program and continue to show their boarding passes and passports.
The aim is to provide a ‘more efficient, more modern experience’ for customers and staff members, said Suzanne Boda, Los Angeles SVP at American Airlines.
Delta Air Lines also started biometric boarding for some international flights at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson this month and will expand that to Detroit Metro Airport in 2019.
