Air Canada has become the first airline in Canada to offer customers the option of using facial recognition technology to confirm their identification, in select test pilot projects.
The company’s digital identification option is available for customers entering the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport, as well as for customers leaving Vancouver International Airport when boarding select flights to Winnipeg.
The Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson is for those departing on a domestic Air Canada flight, flying in Business Class, Premium Rouge or select Aeroplan Credit Cardholders.
They plan to include digital identification options to select Canadian airports and Maple Leaf Lounges as part of its pilot project phase, according to their release on Tuesday.
“Many of our customers already utilize digital credentials to simplify their daily activities such as unlocking mobile phones, entering workplaces, verifying identification during financial transactions and more,” Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada, Craig Landry said. “Participation in digital identification is voluntary.”
Eligible customers will receive an invitation to use the digital identification option, and instructions on how to create their digital faceprint before arriving at the airport. Those who are not interested in participating can board as normal, by presenting a boarding pass and government ID.
Digital credentials are securely encrypted via the Air Canada mobile app. The company notes this digital identification option is not related to any government-sponsored program like NEXUS.
