According to Free Malaysia Today, AirAsia Deputy group CEO Aireen Omar recently stated that the low-cost carrier will be implementing a face recognition system for flight boarding in selected airports across Malaysia this year (2019).
A pilot test for this system is currently being carried out at the Senai airport in Johor Bahru which began in February 2018. The system, known as the Fast Airport Clearance Experience System (FACES), is Malaysia’s first airport facial recognition system with self-boarding gates.
FACES is able to identify guests as they approach these automated boarding gates and they can easily board flights without presenting any travel documents.
Speaking about this system when the pilot test was first launched last year, Group CEO of AirAsia and Co-Group CEO of AirAsia X Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said,
“Airports are typically the worst part of flying. FACES marks our latest effort to make the on-ground experience more seamless and less stressful by using cutting edge biometric technology to authenticate guests.”
“With FACES, your face is your passport, making it a breeze to clear the gate and board your flight.”
“I want to thank Senai International Airport for once again supporting our efforts to improve the travel experience for our guests through digital innovation, as they did when they became the first airport in Malaysia to implement self-service baggage check-in. We hope the success of FACES here will serve as an inspiration and we are keen to work with other airports in Malaysia to revolutionise the way people travel with this technology and make flying enjoyable again.”
Meanwhile, the airline’s deputy group CEO added that after a year of pilot testing, the technology has been refined and improved and that more airports would be selected for the next phase of this project.
Well, we’re excited to see this new system being implemented at more airports this year!
What do you think about this facial recognition system? Let us know in the comments below!
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