On 29 February 2024, a KLM flight from Montreal landed at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol carrying passengers who used a Digital Travel Credential (DTC) to guide them through border checks quickly and efficiently with Tap & Go. The flight forms part of a pilot project running until 31 March 2024 into how DTC1 (a copy of the digital information contained on the chip of the passport) works in combination with facial recognition at border checks. At the request of the European Commission (EC), the pilot project is being conducted by the Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the National Office for Identity Data in cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, KLM and technology provider IDEMIA.
Passengers flying with KLM from Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) to Amsterdam are eligible to participate in the pilot project, as long as they hold a Belgian, Dutch or Canadian passport and are over 18 years of age. They receive an email invitation from KLM to participate in the pilot. Passengers can upload their passport information at home using an app, combined with a facial photo, facilitating early checks by the border control authorities before they arrive at Schiphol. Upon arrival at Schiphol, participants pass through a special DTC Tap & Go border gate. Based on a facial scan, the DTC is called up. Participants then hold their passports against the border gate reader. If there is a match between the DTC and the passport presented and no irregularities emerge from previous checks, the border can be crossed. A physical passport is still required for the pilot project. Expectations are that this will speed up the border process for travellers.
“On a daily basis, we examine how we can make the passenger journey even more comfortable and enjoyable from start to finish,” said Barry ter Voert, Chief Experience Officer (CXO) and EVP Business Development, KLM. “As an airline, KLM is responsible for passport checks as well as check-in and boarding. Digitisation provides an opportunity to make these checks faster and more efficient for our customers, starting from home. To do so properly, legislation and regulations are needed. That’s why we are happy to be participating in the trial conducted by the Dutch Government so that we can share our expertise and improve our services.”
