{"slug": "airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-your-face-is-now-your-boarding-pass", "title": "Airline’s new biometric feature means your face is now your boarding pass", "summary": "Qatar Airways, Hamad International Airport, and technology company SITA have launched a biometric facial recognition system called 'Fast Pass' in Doha, allowing passengers to use their face as a boarding pass across 700 touch points. The service aims to streamline airport processes but still requires passengers to carry passports as backup.", "body_md": "Flying with [Qatar](https://metro.co.uk/tag/qatar/) Airways from [Doha](https://metro.co.uk/tag/doha/) anytime soon? Your face has just become your boarding pass.\n\nOne of the ‘largest biometric passenger rollouts of its kind in the [Middle East](https://metro.co.uk/tag/middle-east/), and globally’ has just landed in the Qatari capital.\n\nAptly named the ‘Fast Pass’, Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar Airways, and technology company SITA have partnered to introduce facial recognition for passengers in Doha.\n\nThe new service connects 700 ‘touch points’ across the airport – allowing travellers to move through check-in, security, lounges and boarding without the usual cycle of document checks.\n\nQatar Airways follows in the footsteps of [Emirates](https://metro.co.uk/tag/emirates/), who launched its own biometric check-in back in [Dubai](https://metro.co.uk/tag/dubai/) in November 2025.\n\n### Ask Metro\n\n*Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications.*\n\n## Best of Metro Deals\n\nGet exclusive discounts with [Metro Deals](https://www.metro-deals.co.uk/deals/london) – save on getaways and spa days. Powered by Wowcher\n\n**Bannatyne Spa**: Spa day for two with treatments, lunch & prosecco — save up to 57% off.\n\n**Mystery Escape**: Hotel stay with return flights from as low as £92pp — save on worldwide holiday packages.\n\n**Beach Retreat (Lanzarote)**: 4* Lanzarote beach holiday with flights — save up to 58%.\n\nWith more time browsing duty free, and less time frantically searching your bag or phone for your boarding pass, this could quickly become the new frontier of air travel.\n\nBut don’t leave your passport behind just yet.\n\nPassengers are required to still bring it with them to the airport in case of any technological hiccups.\n\nCurrently only available on eligible flights, HIA has stated its interest in showcasing this technology to other interested airlines.\n\nIf you’re nervous about participating in the new service, Qatar Airways has also confirmed that standard processing will remain available to all passengers.\n\n### Do you feel comfortable using biometric facial recognition at airports?\n\n-\nYes\n-\nNo\n-\nI'm not sure\n\n## How does Qatar Airway’s Fast Pass service work?\n\nFor anyone keen to ditch their documents, the process is very simple.\n\nThe easiest way to register is through the Qatar Airways mobile app. All you need is your passport and a plain background to take a selfie.\n\nYou can also enable Fast Pass through the self-service kiosks near Row 3 at the airport.\n\nThe pass works by capturing a passenger’s face and linking it to their passport and boarding pass.\n\nThis then creates a secure digital identity that allows the traveller to scan their face at biometric cameras at self-service bag drop, airport security gates and boarding gates.\n\nIt’s a bit like Face ID on your iPhone. Only with Fast Pass, your face is your ticket through the airport.\n\nSimilarly to the EU’s new [EES](https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/02/ryanair-asks-29-european-countries-suspend-half-baked-ees-border-checks-28208125/) border system, once you’ve registered for your Fast Pass, you won’t need to complete the process again.\n\nWhen it comes to how your data is stored, Qatar Airways has shared that ‘if you register through the self-service kiosks at HIA, your personal and biometric data is secure and used only for that specific trip and is deleted 24 hours after your flight departs.’\n\nHowever, if you register for your pass via the app, your data will remain securely stored on your device – shared only with the airport when Fast Pass is enabled for your trip.\n\nIf you ever want to delete your stored data you can do so at any time through the app settings.\n\n## Who is eligible to use the Fast Pass service?\n\nWhile HIA is keen for other airlines to adopt biometric check-ins, Qatar Airways is currently the only carrier offering the service in Doha.\n\nMoreover, there’s some confusion as to which passengers will be able to utilise Fast Pass.\n\nOn the airline’s website, it states that if a passenger’s flight is eligible, they’ll prompt you to register once you check in through the app or self-service kiosks.\n\nThe only other information available is that participating passengers must be aged 18 and above, have a valid passport, and a trip starting in Doha.\n\nWhile some passengers may still be hesitant, recent data clearly shows that more and more travellers are not only adjusting to biometric technology at the airport, but actively embracing it.\n\nAccording to the 2025 IATA Global Passenger survey, half of passengers (50%) have used biometrics at some point in their airport journey – with 85% of those users reporting high levels of satisfaction.\n\n#### Our Top Shopping Picks\n\nSafari park near London is offering tickets and a safari experience from £60 for two\n\nBest carry-on suitcase for overpackers? This North Face bag gets my vote\n\nBest anti-chafing products for summer 2026 – stay sweat-free in the heat\n\nWuka launches the UK’s first period-proof swimwear for heavy flows\n\nInside the £119 spa day with treatments and afternoon tea near Liverpool\n\nThe report also found that 74% of travellers say they would be willing to share their biometric information if it means they can skip showing a passport or boarding pass at checkpoints like check-in, security, border control, and boarding.\n\nMORE: [Major UK airport e-gate change affecting 1,500,000 Brits comes into effect today](https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/08/major-uk-airport-e-gate-change-affecting-1-500-000-brits-comes-effect-today-29085567/?ico=more_text_links)\n\nMORE: [Flight tracker shows the eerie moment plane vanishes into the ocean](https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/08/flight-tracker-shows-eerie-moment-plane-vanishes-ocean-29084644/?ico=more_text_links)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-your-face-is-now-your-boarding-pass", "canonical_source": "https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/08/airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-face-now-boarding-pass-29085213/", "published_at": "2026-07-08 10:58:48+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-08 11:03:48.412128+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["computer-vision", "ai-products", "ai-ethics"], "entities": ["Qatar Airways", "Hamad International Airport", "SITA", "Emirates", "Doha", "Middle East", "Dubai"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-your-face-is-now-your-boarding-pass", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-your-face-is-now-your-boarding-pass.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-your-face-is-now-your-boarding-pass.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/airlines-new-biometric-feature-means-your-face-is-now-your-boarding-pass.jsonld"}}