Air Canada began offering mobile app-based biometric enrollment for gate access at Toronto Pearson International Airport in September 2026. The system uses facial recognition to facilitate faster boarding for travelers flying with the airline at this airport.
Biometric Passenger Experience and Survey Data
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2026 Global Passenger Survey on October 28, 2026. The survey, which gathered responses from over 10,000 passengers in more than 200 countries, found that 58% of travelers had an airport biometric experience in 2026, up from 50% in 2025. Passenger satisfaction with these biometric experiences reached 87%.
The survey also reported that 78% of passengers
are willing to share biometric information to avoid presenting passports and boarding passes during security screening. Additionally, 84% expressed interest in using digital passports for online check-in instead of physical documents, and 82% are open to sharing digital travel IDs with airlines after booking payments for receiving personalized services.
Passenger Options for Biometric Participation in U.S. Airports
Passengers traveling through United States airports retain the right to decline participation in biometric facial recognition technology. The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that opting out of facial comparison processes does not result in additional screening delays or affect travelers’ place in security lines. Furthermore, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) offers alternative processing for American citizens who refuse facial photo capture. This alternative usually involves manual verification of travel documents by CBP officers.
Industry Context and Official Statements
The expansion of biometric processing is driven by rising passenger acceptance and the pursuit of more efficient airport procedures. Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, commented, “More passengers are experiencing biometrics during their travels. They like it and want more.” He emphasized the need for governments to establish a unified framework for issuing and accepting secure digital travel credentials, such as Digital Travel Credentials, to normalize biometric use in international
travel.
IATA’s survey includes data from its 370 member airlines worldwide and highlights growing passenger openness to biometric technologies, including facial, iris, and fingerprint recognition, as well as digital travel identification methods.
