Delta Air Lines has fitted its biometrics system into the boarding process at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the US.
With the implementation of the system, eligible Delta SkyMiles members who are enrolled in CLEAR can use their fingerprints as proof of identity to board their aircraft.
The technology will help replace the traditional use of paper or mobile boarding pass.
The US airline is collaborating with CLEAR to power the back end of its new biometric boarding pass experience.
Delta senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer Gil West said: “The truly exciting piece of what Delta is doing, is how scalable this experience is in part due to our partnership with CLEAR.
“Once we complete testing, customers throughout our domestic network could start seeing this capability in a matter of months – not years.”
During the DCA pilot, CLEAR will capture and use both biometric and SkyMiles information to identify customers at bag drop, Delta Sky Club entry and boarding.
West added: “Biometric verification has a higher level of accuracy than paper boarding passes and gives agents more time to assist customers with seat changes and other skilled tasks instead of having to scan individual tickets – and customers have less to keep track of as they travel through the airport.”
In addition, the final phase of Delta’s DCA biometric boarding pass trial this summer will allow members to use their fingerprints to check bags.
Participation in the biometric boarding pass test remains optional at the airport.
