Facial Recognition is Transforming Airport Security – But Can Travelers Trust It?

On days when TSA screens over 3 million people, seconds saved per traveler become an operational calculation.

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, eight self-service e-gates saved about three seconds per identity check during a 2026 trial.

“A strong focus on passenger flow remains essential to ensure travelers understand and are comfortable with the new process,” he said.

The maintenance gap illustrates the wider problem identified by Scott Moser, Sabre’s chief information security officer: “Autonomy without trust is unusable.”

Because identity data moves among airlines, airports, hotels, governments and payment providers, he said, “privacy and security have to be built into every layer.”