SITA and NEC partner to expand use of digital identity in air travel

SITA, a Switzerland-based air transport technology company, and NEC Corporation, a Japan-based provider of biometric authentication systems, have signed an agreement to support the wider use of digital identities in international travel. 

As part of the agreement, NEC will join SITA’s Digital Travel Ecosystem, a system that connects various platforms for real-time passenger identity verification. The framework reduces the need for direct integrations between airports, airlines, and government agencies. It includes the Trust Network, which governs the secure sharing of digital credentials. Travelers can choose when and with whom to share their identity data. 

Airlines and airports are increasingly planning to adopt biometric identity systems, but a lack of shared standards has slowed implementation. The collaboration aims to resolve this by providing a scalable and interoperable solution, the company said. 

SITA will provide its existing network of biometric systems, while NEC will contribute its facial recognition and identity verification technology. The companies have previously worked together on similar projects at international airports. 

The joint effort is intended to support faster adoption of digital identity systems, reduce processing times, improve security, and simplify identity checks during travel. The focus is on addressing technical barriers to enable more consistent identity management across the industry. 

Jeremy Springall, Senior Vice President of Borders at SITA said, “With NEC’s biometric expertise and SITA’s industry-leading footprint of biometric touchpoints around the world, we’re well-positioned to accelerate the transformation of Digital Travel worldwide.”  

Nanaumi Nagamine, Senior Director of the DID Department at NEC, said, “With SITA, we’ve delivered proven biometric solutions at airports around the world. This expanded collaboration will accelerate global adoption and set a new standard for trusted digital identity in travel.”