Face recognition soon to be standard? New plans at Swiss airports

Swiss airports plan to implement facial recognition technology to systematically record and identify passengers at check-in, baggage drop-off, and boarding. According to the consumer magazine Saldo, this technology will be rolled out across all airports.

Currently, facial recognition is only used at customs checks and is voluntary for travelers. At Zurich Airport, passengers can decide for themselves whether they want to use the counter or go through passport control via an automated system.

A biometric passport is required for automated control. A camera captures the traveler’s face and matches it with the image data stored in the passport. If the data matches, the gate opens automatically without a customs officer having to check the passport.

Legislative changes in the works

Until now, there has been no legal basis for using facial recognition outside of customs control. The federal administration plans to revise the Aviation Act to enable the use of facial recognition in additional areas of airports, including by private companies.

According to the draft law, airports and airlines would in future have access to the data – including airlines from countries with dubious or no data protection. This means that passengers would have to expect their biometric data to be distributed worldwide. The passage on facial recognition was included in the draft law at the request of the airports in Zurich and Geneva.

A glance across the border shows that facial recognition is already in use at airports in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Vienna for Swiss flights. Passengers with the Star Alliance app can board the plane without showing their passport or boarding pass.

Swiss airports have more far-reaching plans for facial recognition. Based on the Freedom of Information Act, Saldo obtained an e-mail from Zurich Airport to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.The proposal states that passengers should be able to navigate the airport «with a biometrically enriched profile.» According to the email, the airport aims to use biometric facial recognition to "measure and analyze waiting times, passenger flows, and travel times».

In 2021, Geneva Airport already purchased new machines for baggage drop-off, check-in and security checks that «enable facial recognition». According to Geneva Airport, the facial scan has not yet been activated, but it could be at the push of a button.

Under Swiss data protection law, facial images require the explicit consent of individuals. Zurich and Geneva airports have stated that the use of biometric identification will remain voluntary. However, Swiss and Aero Suisse, the umbrella organization for Swiss airports and airlines, are advocating for changes in the law. In a statement on the draft legislation, they demand that airports and airlines be permitted to process biometric data without requiring consent in the future.