TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Songshan Airport has introduced a “One ID” facial recognition system for international flights, aiming to streamline passenger processing and reduce waiting times, airport officials said Tuesday, per CNA.
At a press conference, Songshan Airport Director Cheng Chien-chung (鄭堅中) said the system enables travelers to move seamlessly from check-in to boarding using biometric identification. He said passengers can use facial recognition for check-in, luggage, customs, airport lounges, and boarding.
Cheng said that after completing a one-time biometric registration, passengers can pass through all stages of the departure process using facial recognition alone. The system follows global trends promoted by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which has encouraged the adoption of biometric technologies in air travel.
According to a survey conducted by the airport, over 85% of passengers expect biometric self-service, indicating modern passengers value efficient, contactless, smart airport services. For this reason, the airport began developing the One ID service model, per a press release.
To accommodate the new system, the airport has installed 18 One ID-enabled self-check-in kiosks, 12 self-service baggage drop machines, six e-Gate immigration kiosks, and two facial recognition devices at each of the six international departure gates.
Songshan Airport handles approximately 2.8 million international passengers annually. While peak check-in wait times previously exceeded 10 minutes, officials expect the new system to improve efficiency, per CNA.
According to Cheng, the One ID service can reduce waiting times by about 30% and cut manpower by 20%. Airlines jointly fund the system, which costs around NT$300 million (US$9.5 million) over seven years.
The facial recognition system currently has a 95% success rate. However, passport verification by the National Immigration Agency remains separate and is not included in the One ID automated process.
Passengers can register for the system at check-in counters or self-service kiosks by scanning their passport chip. The system converts passport photos into biometric data and links them to boarding passes.
Travelers who have already checked in via airline apps can also register at e-Gates in restricted areas. Cheng said the airport will share implementation results with other airports for evaluation of similar systems.
Addressing privacy concerns, Cheng said passenger data is used only during the boarding process and is automatically deleted within 24 hours after departure. The system complies with government cybersecurity regulations and has passed relevant security testing to ensure data protection.
