Innovation
Biometric
About
The Biometrics Experience project is an ANA initiative aimed at improving the quality of service and the airport experience for passengers.
The "Biometric Experience by VINCI Airports" is an innovation project, supported by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU programme, which focuses on the application of technology to improve the quality of service at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and Ponta Delgada airports.
The project was launched at the beginning of the year in Lisbon and Porto airports and, in the second half of 2024, the technological solution became available in Faro, Madeira and Ponta Delgada. The first tests were carried out with TAP Air Portugal passengers on departures from Lisbon and Porto airports, on flights previously selected by the company, in the Schengen area - Europe. In a second phase, other airlines and more destinations will be added, including extra-European flights.
This technology is at the forefront of the most innovative boarding procedures at airports around the world and is part of a major investment by VINCI Airports in its network, with a project already underway since 2022 at Lyon airport. This is a commitment to improving the quality of service and the passenger experience.
Main advantages for passenger:
- Passengers will be able to use facial biometrics at departures
- Once registered, passengers do not need to use boarding passes or identification documents.
- Easier and simpler journey through the airport, no stops, no queues, no paper.
- Technology, security and comfort in the airport experience.
- Total guarantee of confidentiality, as the data is deleted once the flight has departed.
The technology of the future in the present!
Who can use this service?
Signing up to this identification process is optional and voluntary.
In a first phase, this facility is available on designated intra-EU (Schengen) flights, for passengers who hold a citizen's card, electronic passport and are of legal age.
Passengers on the test flights who are eligible (only passengers of legal age can use biometric data) can take part by registering on their mobile device using the "Biometric Experience by VINCI Airports" app, available on IOS and Android. It's a simple and quick process!
Download the application for Android here and for IOS here.
Alternatively, passengers can register at the airport, on a device available for this purpose, located at check-in, in the public departures area in Lisbon, Porto, Faro Madeira and Ponta Delgada or next to the boarding gates for passengers transferring between flights, at self-registration kiosks or assisted counters.
How it works
Registration and use are simple:
In the app, simply photograph/scan your boarding pass, electronic passport and take a selfie, accepting the terms and conditions
At the kiosk, simply photograph/scan your boarding pass, electronic passport or portuguese nationality card and take a selfie, accepting the terms and conditions.
The boarding experience will be easier and faster thanks to the digitisation of your biometric data, without you having to present your boarding pass again.
This solution uses advanced algorithms to confirm the identity of the person travelling and the name on the boarding pass with the photo and name on their ID document (citizen card or electronic passport).
Using this facility, passengers no longer have to repeatedly present physical or digital identity documents and proof of ticket throughout their journey.
Joining to this identification process is optional and voluntary and requires passengers to enrol/register using the mobile registration app, at self-registration kiosks or at assisted counters: a simple process that only takes 1 minute.
If you are travelling and want to register, choose your airport of origin below:
Data privacy
This biometric scanning and artificial intelligence technology will simplify airport processes while respecting the privacy of personal data, which will be deleted once the passenger has departed on their flight.
Learn more about the project at: recuperarportugal.gov.pt
Have a nice journey!
Privacy and Consent Notice
This project is a collaboration between ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal ("ANA") and the Airlines involved. We are strongly committed to protecting your privacy and personal data. This Privacy Policy sets out how your personal data will be processed and protected within the scope of the initiative, allowing participants to check baggage, access security control and board the aircraft using facial recognition.
Participation in this process is voluntary and open to participants who fulfil the following requirements:
- only for participants over 18 years old;
- The participant has an electronic passport or a Portuguese national ID card.
ANA and the Airlines will act in accordance with data protection laws and regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation. As part of this process, ANA will process personal data on behalf of the Airlines, which act as data controllers for the passenger/participant.
Personal Data Required
If you participate, ANA collects your personal data allowing you to enroll, after which you will be able to cross the included processes using your biometric data.
The Process consists of three steps
1. The participant must enroll at the registration mobile application, kiosk or manual counter
2. The participant will be able to be identified by means of facial recognition where available in the airport
3. The participant boarding pass data will be shared to the applicable airline when completing bag drop and/or boarding processes in line with current standards and requirements
All of these steps require the storage and use of personal data during the process to ensure the integrity of the process. This includes the following data:
Identity document
The identity document (electronic passport or citizen's card) is scanned to ensure that it belongs to the holder of the passport by comparing a photo of your face with the photo in the document. It is also used to ensure that the participant presenting themselves is the same person seeking to use the boarding pass for the purpose of boarding the aircraft operated as per the operator.
Boarding pass
The boarding pass is scanned to see whether you have a valid ticket for the relevant flight. The data is used at bag drop (if applicable) to update the passenger details with the airline of the bag being delivered by the passenger. For the security access control, the boarding pass data is used to ensure it is a valid document to cross to the airside of the airport (security processes must still be performed). Finally, the data is used to process the passenger boarding process by the airlines.
Biometric facial data
Upon enrolment at the registration application, kiosk or desk, your photo is taken for identification in the next steps of the process. This photo is saved in template form only. The visible picture and the identifying characteristics of your face are only viewed for the purpose of confirming it is the same as the person presented in the associated identity document. When crossing the included process (e.g. boarding), another photo is taken, which is converted to a template form and subsequently used to identify you. ANA collects your personal data only for the purposes of performing the processes included in this process.
Only the necessary information will be processed and, if necessary, shared with the authority in accordance with current requirements, namely boarding pass data with the airline. Identity document and biometric data are mainly used to complete the manual checks that airlines are obliged to carry out.
The purpose
ANA and the Airlines are constantly working to improve travel processes at the airport in order to make the travel experience as smooth and pleasant as possible.
The objectives are:
- Enhance the passenger experience
- Remove duplication of repeatedly showing travel documents
- Simplify the airport processes
- Enhance security leveraging biometrics and AI
- Support the airline agent manual tasks to focus on customer experience
ANA processes and stores your personal data on behalf of the Airline, only in so far as it is strictly necessary for achieving the stated purposes and all personal data is deleted from the system after flight departure.
Protecting your personal data
ANA adopts appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against loss or any form of unlawful processing. For example, all servers and other storage media are equipped with physical and software security. Access to your data is limited to those employees who are directly involved in the process and with legitimate needs.
Your rights
ANA attaches great value to transparency. We therefore believe that you must be able to identify which personal data ANA collects and processes for the purposes of this process at any time.
The process is based on voluntary participation. At the start of the enrolment, you give your personal consent for the use of your data. You can terminate your participation at any point during the enrolment process. In such case, all data will be erased.
All biometric data that we collect for the purposes of enabling the process will be erased in full no later than 24 hours after taking the photo during enrolment.
ANA’s Privacy Policy, that can be consulted at www.ana.pt.
Should you have any questions on privacy-related matters within the compass of the process, please feel free to email dpo@ana.pt.
Contact information
ANA realises that you may have further questions about this process. For more information, please send an e-mail to: biometricexperience@ana.pt
Changes to the Privacy Policy
ANA reserves the right to amend this Privacy and Consent Notice from time to time. This may be required in connection with modifications to the aim of the Trial or due to changes in legislation, for example. We therefore recommend that you check this Privacy and Consent Notice regularly.
