Passengers Will No Longer Need Documents to Fly from This Airport

Getting on a plane could soon be as easy as taking a taxi — but not for everyone.

Imagine arriving at an airport and boarding a plane without a single document check or boarding pass. This is exactly what the management of Abu Dhabi International Airport aims to achieve. But how can this be possible?

Zayed Airport, located in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the largest and most technologically advanced airports in the world. Next year, it plans to introduce a new screening system that will allow passengers to board planes without showing their ID, passport, or even a boarding pass. Passengers will simply arrive at their designated gate and board the plane by passing through biometric sensors.

This system, called Smart Travel, will feature biometric sensors at every security checkpoint, from check-in to the gate. The sensors will verify each passenger's identity by scanning their iris or entire face. The new technology is already operational in one terminal, but only for flights operated by Etihad, one of the UAE's two international airlines.

This system offers a significant convenience by eliminating the need for traditional check-ins. "Passengers are automatically recognized and authenticated as they pass through the airport, which speeds up the entire process," said Andrew Murphy, Chief Information Officer at Abu Dhabi Airport, in an interview with CNN. He added that biometric data is collected from everyone arriving in the UAE for the first time, whether they are residents or tourists. However, children under 12 will not undergo biometric scans due to their rapidly changing facial features; instead, their parents will need to present a passport or ID card.

If you prefer not to go through the biometric process, you can still choose the traditional method by presenting your ID and boarding pass. Other airports around the world are also introducing this technology, including those in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Delhi, and soon Singapore. However, Abu Dhabi Airport has ambitions to become the first in the world to switch entirely to this new system.