Air Canada passengers can enroll through the airline’s mobile app to use one of four biometric e-gates at Toronto Pearson International Airport beginning September 2026, according to Mobile ID World. The pilot involves one biometric gate for domestic travel and three additional gates for passengers traveling to the United States through Pearson’s transborder area.
Enrollment and Biometric Verification Process
Domestic travelers must opt into the biometric boarding option via the Air Canada app before arriving at the gate. The gate captures a live facial image and compares it to a traveler record stored in Air Canada’s identity gallery. A positive match can replace the need
to present a passport and boarding pass at the gate. US-bound passengers use a different process, where biometric data is captured during preclearance at Pearson’s transborder area, removing the requirement for advance enrollment through the airline app.
Technology Providers and System Integration
The physical biometric gates are supplied by Dormakaba. Middleware that links the gate hardware with identity management systems is provided by Airsphere and SITA. Air Canada supplies the domestic enrollment software and maintains the biometric identity gallery for travelers enrolling via the app.
Pilot Program Details and Airport Context
Participation in the biometric gate pilot is voluntary, with traditional document checks remaining available. The pilot aims to measure adoption
rates, processing times, passenger throughput, and customer satisfaction. Toronto Pearson International Airport, which currently processes approximately 47 million passengers annually and expects to reach 65 million by the early 2030s, is undergoing a modernization initiative that incorporates digital identity and automation to accommodate growing passenger volumes.
This deployment builds on Air Canada’s previous mobile-based traveler identity pilot, which connected smartphone enrollment with facial recognition technology. Separately, biometric boarding via selfie onboarding has been implemented at Calgary Airport as part of Canada’s biometric travel technology advancements.
