IATA Awards First One ID Certifications to Air New Zealand and Hong Kong International Airport

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Air New Zealand and Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) are the first organizations to achieve One ID Certification. The certifications were presented at the IATA World Passenger Symposium (WPS) in Macao.

What is One ID?
- A global framework that uses digital identity and biometrics throughout the passenger journey.
- Allows travellers to verify identity and travel documents before arriving at the airport.
- Enables passengers to use facial recognition instead of repeatedly presenting passports and boarding passes.

Passenger Demand
- According to IATA's 2026 Global Passenger Survey:
- 78% of passengers are willing to share biometric information to avoid presenting physical travel documents at airport checkpoints.

Certification Scope
- Organizations can be certified in four areas:
- Digitalization of Admissibility
- Contactless Travel
- Biometric Handling
- Privacy, Consent and Governance
- Air New Zealand and HKIA were certified across all areas applicable to their operations.

Industry Perspective
- Nick Careen, Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security, IATA
- Said the certification provides assurance that digital identity, biometric handling and privacy practices meet global standards.
- Described Air New Zealand and HKIA as industry leaders in digital travel innovation.

HKIA's Flight Token Success
- HKIA's Flight Token biometric identification system allows self-service travel through airport checkpoints using facial recognition.
- More than 80% of departing passengers are eligible to use the system.
- Over 93 million passengers have used Flight Token since its launch in 2021.
- Certification confirms alignment with IATA's global digital identity standards.

Air New Zealand's View
- The airline said One ID technology simplifies the travel process by reducing documentation checks and queue times.
- Highlighted the importance of maintaining strong privacy and data protection standards as digital travel solutions expand.

Supporting Wider Adoption
- IATA is also promoting digital travel through:
Government Collaboration
- Working with governments to enable issuance and acceptance of Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs).
Contactless Travel Directory
- Helping airlines, airports and border authorities connect with biometric identity partners.
Timatic AutoCheck
- Automating travel document verification processes.

Industry Impact
- Certified organizations will be listed in IATA's planned One ID Trust Registry.
- The initiative aims to improve interoperability, privacy protection and seamless international travel through trusted digital identity systems.

Key Takeaway
- The certification of Air New Zealand and Hong Kong International Airport marks a major step towards fully digital, biometric-based passenger journeys, setting a global benchmark for secure, contactless and seamless air travel.